Kris Richards - Softball Coach - George Washington University Athletics

Kris Richards

Title:
Assistant Coach
Email:
kris.richards@gwu.edu

Kris Richards has joined the GW softball staff as an assistant coach in August 2022..

Most recently a leader within New Zealand's national baseball governing body, Richards brings a diverse resume to the Buff and Blue with experience playing and coaching across the globe.

"We are thrilled to welcome Kris Richards to GW, to the softball program and to our coaching staff," said Schoonmaker, who was named 2022 Atlantic 10 Coach of the Year after leading the program to its second straight conference title. "Kris has a passion for player development, a love of coaching and a deep knowledge of the game which will make an immediate impact.

"Kris has a wealth of experience at both the professional and international levels from his time in MLB and with Baseball New Zealand, and his offensive expertise will be a game changer for us. Kris's energy is infectious, and he will be an asset to our team culture and out on the recruiting trail. We look forward to seeing the lasting impact he has on our student-athletes."

For the past three years, Richards has overseen operations for Baseball New Zealand as coaching development manager while skippering its U-18 national team and also serving as hitting coach with the U-23 squad.

The North Carolina native's playing career includes three seasons in the Baltimore Orioles organization as well as a pro stint in the Australian Baseball League, plus high-level men's fastpitch softball experience with the Hutt Valley Dodger Softball Club.

"It's an honor to take on this role and represent such a respected institution," Richards said. "I want to thank Coach Schoonmaker for giving me the opportunity to be a part of her experienced coaching staff. I am eager to get out on the diamond, meet the players and compete for an A-10 Championship."

Richards returns to the U.S. after working hard in a variety of capacities over the past five years to promote baseball interest, understanding and participation throughout New Zealand.

As Baseball New Zealand's coaching development manager, he was responsible for managing a network of more than 150 coaches throughout the country at all levels of the game and constructing systems to establish standards for both teaching and training.

Since 2018, Richards has served as manager of the U-18 national team and concurrently worked with the U-23 squad with an aim of improving the country's standing on the global stage.

Richards joined Baseball New Zealand in April 2017 as a regional development officer overseeing the Wellington Baseball Association and its six member clubs and working to build participation and infrastructure for the sport at a grassroots level.

That year, Richards served as hitting coach with the U-15 national team for the WBSC World Cup Oceania qualifiers. He was named the 2017 International Coach of the Year by Baseball Jobs Overseas.

While in New Zealand, he also stayed active as a player, helping launch the Auckland Tuatara in the Australian Baseball League as the country's first-ever pro team in 2018-19. The next season, the jack-of-all-trades utility player was part of more history as the club claimed its first division title.

Before heading to New Zealand, Richards spent two seasons as hitting coach of the Czech Republic's U-23 National Team while also managing Kotlárka Praha baseball club in Prague. He was named Extraliga Coach of the Year and Rookie Coach of the Year in 2015 after guiding the club to its first-ever league title and then took the group to a regular season title in 2016.

Richards turned to coaching after his playing career in the U.S. was halted due to injury. He was a member of the Orioles organization for three seasons playing for three different minor-league clubs in 2012 and 2013 as an infielder before requiring Tommy John surgery on his throwing elbow shortly after converting to pitching in spring training of 2014.

Richards signed with Baltimore as an undrafted free agent after a productive career at UNC Greensboro in which he started 142 of the 175 games he played over four seasons.

As a senior in 2012, Richards put up career numbers with a .342/.402/.505 slash line while leading the team in hits (63), runs scored (34) and doubles (15). He graduated from UNCG that year with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Kinesiology Exercise Sports Science.