Jeff Richards

I have been an Assistant at Southern Utah University now for 10 years. I manage a recruiting budget of 20,000 dollars. I am the main recruiter where I analyze, interview and communicate with recruits, parents and coaches. I am the Bar coach and assist with the other events. I effectively communicate expectations, work outs, travel itineraries, school expectations and community service. I help communicate with administrative, sports media, academic and strength staff to make sure we are getting the best out of and giving our best to the athletes. We must follow NCAA rules, conference rules and University rules. Things change constantly and I must adapt, learn, ask questions and be willing to grow constantly. The day I think I have all the answers is the day that I stop growing. Communication in this setting is key to making sure everyone knows what is happening. I also worked for our club program where I hired and trained the coaching staff. I interviewed and onboarded all coaches as well as sometimes having to fire coaches. I mentored them in communicating with the children and the parents.

Here at Utah State I managed a budget of 150,000 dollars. The first year there I saved 75,000 dollars and we were able to buy a brand new set of equipment for the competition arena. I set the expectations here as the Head Coach. I hired my assistant coaches and mentored them to effectively communicate the standards of the program. I worked closely with my sport administrator, compliance team, strength staff, sports information and marketing and academic affairs to make sure the athletes were given the best opportunity to succeed. Everyday in coaching is a new day. It is not if there are going to be problems, it is when and how am I going to deal with them. I understood I had to look like I had all the answers but needed to lean on my Athletic director, sport administrator and prior head coaches for advice. The details have to be addressed and that is where solutions are found.