Remembering Jacob Wright: Will C. Wood football coach suffers fatal heart attack on campus
Jacob Wright had a saying he would drop on all comers and one he would regularly tell his Will C. Wood High School football players.
To all comers: “What’s up, Little Dude?” — even if the dude was taller.
To his players: “Let’s get better today!”
Wright died after suffering a heart attack on his team’s Vacaville campus Saturday morning following a meeting with coaches, leaving a tremor of emotions throughout Solano County. He was 46.
A candlelight vigil was held at the Wood football field Saturday night for the 1995 Wood graduate who played center and linebacker for the Wildcats. Students posted homemade signs on campus with messages written in blue and yellow, the school colors: “In loving memory of Coach Jacob Wright”.
Wood principal Charleston Brown wrote in a statement to Vacaville Unified School District families: “I am writing with sad news that our beloved Will C. Wood football coach, Jacob Wright, suffered a medical emergency during the team’s morning meeting. He was transported to the hospital and unfortunately passed away. The football stadium will be open at 3 p.m. (Saturday) if you would like to come by and be with our Wildcat family. ... We will have counseling staff available to all Wood staff and students Monday morning. Let’s hold the Wright family and Wildcat football team in our thoughts.”
Wright played in the trenches at Solano College and Lindenwood University in Missouri, where he played on the defensive line. He was the head coach at San Lorenzo High in Alameda County for six seasons, ending in 2012. He then served as a Wood assistant for seven seasons, including a 10-2 team in 2015 that was coached by Carlos Meraz and is considered the best in program history (the school opened in 1989).
Wright was hired as Wood’s head coach in 2021, leading the Wildcats to the CIF Sac-Joaquin Section playoffs. The team returned to the postseason in 2022. Wood got off to a 3-0 start this season but dropped to 4-4 after Friday’s 47-14 loss at Vanden in Fairfield.
Wright was a beloved physical education teacher, named the Vacaville Unified School District Teacher of the Year for the 2017-18 academic year.
“I covered Jacob when he played at Wood and Solano,” former Vacaville Reporter journalist Cecil Conley wrote on Facebook. “He invested everything he had into students and athletes. Jacob was one of the most authentic people I ever had the privilege of calling a friend.”
American River College football coach Jon Osterhout posted on his Facebook: “The football community lost a great one today. Coach Wright was a leader of men who entrusted our program with his players and also his son. (He) will be missed but never forgotten. Much love to those who were impacted by his soul.”
Wrote West Park High of Roseville coach Jason Tenner on Instagram: “We lost a great man. Jacob Wright is hands down one of the best men I’ve ever had the pleasure of working with. His passion and energy have inspired so many over the years, and his impact will live on for years to come ... rest easy, brother.”