The Daily Egyptian is published by the students of SIU at Carbondale. Except during vacations and exam weeks, The Daily Egyptian is published Monday through Friday during the fall and spring semesters and TWThF during the summer semester."

Wright leaves SIU

Just four months after being demoted to jumps coach, Cameron Wright has decided to resign from the world of SIU track.

Wright, who was on the short end of the men's and women's track merger during the summer, will leave SIU to work for a pharmaceutical company, he told the Daily Egyptian Tuesday.

The University is in the process of a national search, but there is no word yet on who Wright's replacement will be. Current head coach Connie Price-Smith could not be reached immediately for comment.

The primary reason for Wright's departure was the pay cut he was received when he became an assistant. Wright has a family and two kids, so when Forest Pharmaceuticals gave him an offer, he could not refuse.

He and his wife had just built a house in Marion, and the new job promises a steady source of income and much more time to spend with his family, especially because Wright will be working from home.

"An opportunity came up, me and wife discussed it, and we decided it was probably the best thing for our family," Wright said over the phone from New York, where he is training for his new job.

Wright had been at SIU in some way, shape or form for the last 13 years, where he started as an All-American high jumper.

He had been the SIU men's track and field head coach the last four years before June's merger, when Price-Smith was given autonomy over both programs.

But Wright said he is not bitter about the way he left.

"I love that place," Wright said of SIU, the only place he had called home since high school.

"It's been real good to me. The people there have been real good to me, always have."

Wright said it was time for him to do some other things with his life, but he is disappointed he was not able to finish the track season. He said his only regret is not being able to finish what he started with his jumpers.

As hard as it was, he said, his family took precedence, and even though his new job has nothing to do with track and field, he hopes it will be just as fulfilling.

"I'm excited about this," Wright said. "I think it will be a good experience for me, and hopefully it works out well."