The Alabama State Hornets have swiftly moved to secure their future, announcing Chris Wright as the new head coach of the men's basketball program. The university made the official announcement on Friday, April 10, concluding a search that lasted less than two weeks.

This hire signals a bold new direction for a program seeking stability and a return to its winning ways. Athletic Director Jason Cable expressed strong confidence in the selection, stating, "Chris Wright represents exactly what we were looking for: a proven winner, a builder of programs and a leader who knows how to establish and sustain a championship culture."

Wright arrives with a remarkable track record of rapid turnarounds. His most recent success came at Langston University, where he took over a team that finished 1-27 and, in his first season, led them to an astounding 31-3 record. Over four years, he compiled a 121-21 record, made two NAIA National Championship appearances, and earned NAIA National Coach of the Year honors in 2022-23.

Eager to embrace the challenge, Wright said, "I am honored and excited to lead the Alabama State men's basketball program. This is a proud institution with a rich tradition and a passionate fan base. We will build a program that competes for championships every year... Our expectation is to win and to win the right way."

The coaching change follows the departure of Tony Madlock, who stepped down on March 29 to join former teammate Penny Hardaway's staff at Memphis as associate head coach. Madlock's exit came after a season of struggle; following the historic high of the program's first NCAA Tournament win in 2024-25, the Hornets stumbled to a 10-22 (7-11 SWAC) record in 2025-26 and suffered a first-round exit in the conference tournament.

Now, all eyes are on Coach Wright as he aims to rebuild the Hornets into a consistent force in the SWAC, leveraging his proven blueprint for building a championship culture from the ground up.