New Mexico State University Athletics

Rabun Wright from Jacksonville State. Wright spent the past two seasons as an assistant coach with the Gamecocks, who will now be regular competition for the Aggies in Conference USA. Wright will serve as both an assistant and recruiting coordinator with NM State. 

"I love that Rabun brings recruiting experience from the JuCo ranks and Division I where she has been the recruiting coordinator," said Adams. "Her passion and love for people is truly special. She is a true fit in our culture and has made an immediate impact in the organizational plan of all our recruiting.  I love her positive energy, vision and new ideas she brings to our staff both on and off the court."

The Gamecocks finished 16-14 in 2022-23 as they posted their fourth winning season in the last five years. Their 9-9 record in ASUN play was the sixth consecutive season with a .500 or better record in conference play. Following another successful season, the Gamecocks once again advanced to the ASUN Tournament.

The Gamecocks had a historically successful season in 2021-22. Wright, along with Head Coach Rick Pietri and the rest of the coaching staff, guided Jacksonville State to a Division I program-best 24-8 record. JSU claimed the ASUN West Division title in their first season back in the league and earned a WNIT bid, which was the program's first postseason appearance in Division I competition.

Prior to her time with Jacksonville State, Wright spent three seasons as an assistant coach at Florida SouthWestern State College (FSW) in Fort Myers, Florida. During her tenure at FSW, the Buccaneers won three-straight Suncoast Conference Championships and earned back-to-back bids to the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) Women's Basketball Championship. She recruited and coached three NJCAA All-Americans and saw seven of her athletes move on to Division I programs.  

In her first season with the Bucs in 2018-19, FSW went 30-4, winning the Suncoast Conference title with an undefeated record, marking the program's first appearance in the NJCAA Tournament, where they advanced to the Sweet 16. The Bucs repeated as conference champions the following season finishing 24-7 overall, earning their second consecutive NJCAA Tournament berth. Her final season in Fort Myers, Fla., concluded with a 13-6 record amid a Covid-19 interrupted season. The Bucs still managed a third-straight conference title with a 6-3 SCC mark. 

Starting in the Fall of 2016, Wright began her collegiate coaching career at Division II Shorter University in Rome, Georgia. She spent one season with the Hawks as a graduate assistant and a second as an assistant. 

Prior to her stint at Shorter, Wright spent time overseas working with multiple sports ministry programs in Malta, Italy and Germany. In addition to organizing numerous sports camps throughout Italy, and participating in sports-based leadership training in Germany, she worked hand-in-hand with the International Olympic committee in Malta. Rabun also trained players competing for Malta's National Team.

Wright played at the University of North Alabama from 2012-2015, during which time she helped re-establish the FCA chapter at UNA and led a small group bible study for women athletes on campus. During the summer of her sophomore year, Rabun worked as a media manager for the basketball venue at the National Special Olympic Games. 

Wright graduated Cum Laude from UNA with a Bachelor of Science in Mass Communications with a concentration in Broadcast Journalism and later earned her master's degree in Business Administration (Sports Management) from Shorter University.