Ouachita Baptist University Athletics

Tona Wright, a native of Arkadelphia, joined the Ouachita faculty and staff in 1971 and was charged with developing the first varsity women’s volleyball program. She was one of the state’s leading members in organizing women’s sports at the collegiate level with the inception of the Arkansas Women’s Intercollegiate Sports Association.

During her 24-year tenure as head volleyball coach, she led the Tigerettes to three AIC Championships, two NAIA District 17 Championships, and two NAIA Bi-District championships. Wright also was head women’s tennis coach, and her teams won four AIC Championships with several individual champions during her 21 years of coaching tennis. She was named NAIA District 17 Volleyball Coach of the Year on three occasions, Women’s Tennis Coach of the Year on two occasions, and AIC Coach of the Year in both volleyball and tennis.