(DCC Athletics release)
GLENDIVE – Dawson Community College has hired Paige Wright as assistant women’s basketball coach for the Lady Buccaneer program.
Wright recently was the women’s graduate assistant basketball coach for Minot State University in Minot, ND. She graduated with a Master’s of Science in Sports Management at Minot and also has a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Communications from California University at Pennsylvania.
“I chose Dawson because I’ll be coming into a successful program that’s ran by a great coach,” said Wright. “Coach Lagmay has been in this game for a long time and I know I’ll learn so much while working for him. We have a great group of girls this year and I’m excited to work with them, and work towards a championhip!”
Most recently, she was under the tutelage of veteran coaches Sheila Green Gerding and current head coach Mark Graupe, during the 2016-2018 seasons at Minot. Paige assisted with post player development, prepared scouting reports, monitored academic progress, film breakdown and coordinated and managed individual and team camps. She mentored 1st Team All-NSIC player Holly Johnson in 2017-2018, and contributed to a quick program turnaround of 14 wins which was the 10th most improved program in NCAA Division II Women’s Basketball for the 2017-2018 campaign. Minot only won 4 games the season prior.
Head Coach Mark Graupe congratulated Wright on her new Dawson position.
“Paige was an excellent college player, and now with 2 years of NCAA Division II coaching experience, hopefully she can help DCC win a Region 13 title.”
Other work experience includes being a camp instructor for Breakthrough Basketball in Minot, and coaching AAU for Always 100 U17 in Fort Wayne, Indiana.
As a player, Wright had a successful career record of 98-24, which includes a 2015 NCAA Division II National Championship at California University (PA). During her time at Cal, they also won 2 PSAC tournament championships, 1 PSAC regular season conference championship and participated in 2 NCAA Tournaments. As a native hoosier, she played and graduated from Northrop High School in 2012. After Northrop, she received a scholarship to play for Saginaw Valley State University, an NCAA Division II institution located in University Center, MI. After one season at Saginaw Valley, she transferred to Owens Community College in Perrysburg, OH playing her sophomore season in 2013-2014. At Owens, they won the 2014 OCCAC regular season conference championship, where she was selected an All-Conference player.
“Paige is going to do well for our program and Dawson overall,” DCC Head Women’s Basketball Coach Romeo Lagmay, Jr. on his new staff member, With her successful experience as a player and coach, our program is in better shape! She has a national championship, as do I, and with that, I believe that culture will be established and taught. I’m super excited to work with her and become her new mentor, yet I’m sure I will be learning from her as well with the experience she brings to the table.”
