Former Putnam County High School football player Damoio’n Wright is taking the next step in his coaching career.
Wright recently joined the coaching staff at Gainesville High School after spending the past several seasons helping build one of Georgia’s premier football programs at Grayson.
Wright followed former Grayson head coach Santavious Bryant to Gainesville after the two worked together during a highly successful stretch that included a state championship and multiple nationally ranked teams.
Although leaving Grayson wasn’t an easy decision, Wright said the opportunity to continue coaching alongside Bryant made the move worthwhile.
“My time at Grayson was great,” Wright said. “It really became a second home to me.
I really didn’t want to leave, but sometimes it’s just time for a change. We did a lot of great things there. We put a lot of kids in college, we were nationally ranked every year,r and won a state championship. It was everything I hoped it would be.”
When Bryant accepted the head coaching position at Gainesville, Wright initially expected to land elsewhere, but then received a phone call that changed his plans.
“[Bryant] called me and asked if I’d come with him, and that’s what I did,” Wright said. “I’ve been here [at Gainesville] for about a month now, and it’s been a great experience. I love it up here.”
The transition has been seamless, thanks in part to the similarities between the two powerhouse programs.
“The expectations are still high,” Wright said. “The community wants to win a state championship, but they also want us to build great young men and continue growing the program on and off the field. It’s a lot like Grayson in that sense.”
While Grayson routinely carries around 240 players in its program, Gainesville’s roster is closer to 120 players. Wright said the smaller numbers don’t change the expectations.
“The standard is still the standard,” he said. “Coach Bryant still has the same expectations, and we’re going to keep doing what we’ve always done.”
Wright also takes on a new role with the Red Elephants, moving from coaching running backs to coaching tight ends. It’s a position he’s familiar with from playing H-back at GMC, and one he believes is especially important in Gainesville’s offensive system.
“The tight end is one of the biggest positions in what we do offensively,” Wright said. “I’ve got my hands in both the run game and the passing game, so it’s something I really enjoy. I’ve got three guys in that room that I think are going to lead the way.”
Gainesville enters the 2026 season loaded with talent, including Clemson-bound quarterback Kharim Hughley and Alabama running back commit Najel Newkirk, who is expected to return from a knee injury.
Wright also praised the offensive line and the unit's overall depth after seeing the team compete in a recent padded camp.
“We’ve got a lot of firepower,” he said. “We saw a lot of good things. We’ve still got some things to clean up, but we’re going to be able to run the football, and Kharim will have plenty of time back there to get the ball to our playmakers. I think we’re going to be able to put up a lot of points.”
While Wright is excited about the opportunity at Gainesville, he acknowledged that becoming a head coach remains one of his biggest career goals.
“That’s definitely the next step,” Wright said. “Right now, I’m focused on learning as much as I can, continuing to grow, and preparing myself whenever that opportunity comes. Every place I’ve been has helped me become a better coach, and I’m grateful for all of those experiences.”