Jim Richards, a former Western Kentucky men’s basketball coach and athletic director whose connection to the school stretched across more than four decades, has died at 90.
The university announced that Richards died Friday. A WKU Athletic Hall of Fame member, he represented the Hilltoppers as a baseball player, basketball and golf coach, fundraiser and administrator.
“He loved WKU Basketball as much as anybody,” athletic director Todd Stewart said. “Our thoughts and prayers go out to his family. RIP Coach Richards.”
Richards helped WKU reach the 1971 Final Four as an assistant under John Oldham before succeeding him as head coach. Over seven seasons, he compiled a 102-84 record and guided the Hilltoppers to two Ohio Valley Conference regular-season titles, two conference tournament championships and two NCAA Tournament appearances.
His final season produced a particularly memorable turnaround. After starting 3-8, WKU reached the 1978 NCAA Tournament and beat nationally ranked Syracuse, 87-86, in overtime to advance to the Sweet 16.
Richards later coached the men’s golf team, with all eight of his teams posting winning seasons, and served as athletic director before retiring in 1994. He entered WKU’s Athletic Hall of Fame in 2005.
He continued attending basketball practices, and current coach Hank Plona recalled a conversation from just days before Richards’ death.
“He told me on Monday that we’re going to be a great defensive team this year,” Plona said. “We are going to work hard every day to make him proud and play with an energy and excitement that he would love.”
