Atlantic City, NJ High School Football Coach Has Been Suspended

First, the good news. Followed by the bad news.

Keenan Wright is the head football coach of the Atlantic City High School Vikings since being approved by the Atlantic City Board of Education in February, 2020.

Wright inherited a once state championship level program that had declined to a record of 2-18 over the two seasons before Wright took over the program.

We have never spoken with or met Wright, but, have heard exceptional things about his overall work habits and the great connection that he has made with his players over the past two seasons.

Wright has turned the program completely around, leading The Vikings to a 7-2 record this 2022 season, including a razor thin 21-20 loss in the NJSIAA playoffs to Lenape back on November 4, 2022.

The Vikings made the NJSIAA playoffs this year for the first time since 2016, winning a first round game vs. Rancocas Valley high school.

Atlantic City‘s only other loss this entire season was to Mainland Regional High School, 55-26 back on September 16, 2022.

This (2022) season, The Vikings have defeated:

Clearview
Absegami
Deptford
Egg Harbor Township
Bridgeton
Oakcrest
Rancocas Valley (NJSIAA Playoffs)

The Vikings still have the big Thanksgiving Day rivalry game against Holy Spirit High School.

The game will be held this year at Holy Spirt High School’s Ed Byrnes Stadium at 10:00 a.m. on this Thursday, November 24, 2022.

Atlantic City leads this iconic series 50-38-4. It’s one of the longest rivalry games in American history … especially considering that it is held on Thanksgiving Day … which does not occur in many cities and states around the country.

It makes this game so very special each year, as this is the only time that many people come home for the entire year during the Thanksgiving season.

You can catch all of the live Thanksgiving Day action, beginning at 9:00 a.m. (pregame show) and the entire game on WPG Talk Radio 95.5

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Now for the bad news.

Atlantic City high school Head Football Coach Keenan Wright via Facebook.

We have been advised that Wright will not be on the sidelines coaching The Vikings on Thanksgiving Day.

Multiple sources have reported to me that Wright has been suspended and will not be allowed to coach the game.

Because it is a personnel matter, we’re not going to share any of the details that have been provided to us, except to say that it does not involve any inappropriate behavior towards students by Wright.

The reason as we know it, should not have resulted in a suspension, according to multiple sources.

For example, this is the same public schools administration that allowed two students to fight, wearing boxing gloves … off of school property … in a “fight club” style atmosphere, with the public watching it and video taping it. No discipline whatsoever resulted from this outrageous incident.

If you missed our previous coverage about this incident, here it is:

After reading the above article, remember there was no discipline whatsoever that occurred in this horrific example.

The Coach Wright suspension does not involve fighting.

Despite knowing that this is a personal matter and limited comment if any could be made on the subject of the Wright suspension, we reached out to Atlantic City Board of Education Member John Devlin for comment.

Devlin has always been transparent when it comes to important public matters that others try to hide.

Here is what Devlin shared with us:

"I have heard rumors and scuttlebutt throughout the city regarding the suspension of the high school football coach.

It's unfortunate that our superintendent of schools hasn't communicated with board members and displays no transparency whatsoever.

To further add insult to injury, the rumor is that the head coach is suspended for the Thanksgiving Day game.

The whole world knows that this is the most historical game in South Jersey, or, even in New Jersey.

It's sad to see these actions taken on the eve of the game, makes one think that's there more to the
story,” said Devlin.