CENTENARY, Ohio — For many people, that dream job almost always remains elusive, just out of reach.

Craig Wright is no longer among the many who are still waiting for that big break.

Wright, who has been the varsity wrestling coach at Gallia Academy High School since 2001, is now the athletic director at Gallia Academy High School. His appointment was approved on Wednesday during the Gallipolis City School District Board of Education meeting.

Wright replaces Bill Wamsley, who is stepping down at the end of the 2009-2010 academic year following a 31-year career with the city school district, and with whom Wright shares a family tie.

“The AD job has always kind of been a dream job of mine,” Wright said. “I’ve always been involved with athletic programs in the county. Mr. Wamsley, being my uncle, I’ve observed him do the AD job for the past 30 years, and I’ve always been impressed. Mr. Wamsley’s always been a big influence in my life, a role model. That was very important to me.”

Wright said he had been approached by other school districts about jobs in the past, but his close ties to GAHS kept him at home.

“Gallia Academy means a lot to me,” he said. “It’s where I went to high school. I’ve been a resident of this county for almost 40 years now and my heart bleeds white and blue, with a little bit of gold. I’m just excited to have the opportunity. It’s something I’ve always wanted to do and I understand the time it takes for this particular position.”

Wright graduated from GAHS in 1988. He completed his undergraduate degree at Ohio University, earned a master’s degree from the University of Rio Grande and a principal’s certificate from Marshall University.

Prior to joining the faculty at GAHS in 2003, Wright taught and coached for about eight years in the Gallia County Local School District.