Wright and Vollstedt represent UA and ASU in Pac-12 Hall of Honor class
Feb 26, 2018, 3:40 PM
(AP Photo/Eric Gay, File)
(AP Photo/Eric Gay, File)
The Pac-12 announced its inductees for the 2018 Hall of Honor, which included former basketball player Michael Wright from UA and ASU women’s golf coach Linda Vollstedt.
Wright played three seasons (1998-2001) at Arizona before the New York Knicks drafted him in the second round of the 2001 NBA draft.
During his time in Tucson, Wright played alongside many other Arizona greats such as Jason Terry, Richard Jefferson, Gilbert Arenas and Luke Walton.
In Wright’s junior year, Arizona went to the national championship game where Wright had a double-double, grabbing 11 rebounds and scoring 10 points on 55.6 percent shooting. However, the Duke Blue Devils, led by Shane Battier, Mike Dunleavy, Jay Williams and Carlos Boozer, were too much for the Wildcats, who lost 82-72. Arizona has not returned to the NCAA Championship game since this game in 2001.
Over his three years in college, Wright averaged 15.1 points per game and 8.4 rebounds. Wright was top-three on the team in scoring in each of his three years, including his sophomore season where he led the team in scoring with 15.5 points a game. Wright also led the team in rebounding his sophomore and junior seasons and was second in rebounding his freshman year.
Wright was a part of the Michael Wright A-Club Scholarship Endowment. This endowment has raised more than $85,000 to help former student athletes complete their undergraduate degree after they finish their NCAA eligibility.
Wright was murdered nearly three years ago at age 35.
And while Wright’s legacy was on the basketball court, Vollstedt has left a lasting legacy on the golf course in Tempe.
Vollstedt coached Arizona State from 1980-2001 where she taught 41 all-americans, 71 all-conference players and 12 conference medalists.
Arizona State leads the NCAA in women’s golf championships with eight national championships and while Vollstedt coaching, ASU won six national championships in an eight year span. From 1993 to 1995, ASU won the national championship three times in a row.
Vollstedt also coached the 1995 ASU golf team, which was the only undefeated golf team in NCAA history.
Because of all of Vollstedt’s historic accomplishments, she was named the Pac-12 Women’s Golf Coach of the Century.
After Vollstedt coached her final season in 2001, she moved on to a new position at ASU. Vollstedt now works as the development director for the Sun Devil Club. At this position she helps fund-raise and develop Sun Devil Athletics.
