Connie Richardson transitioned to a new role at Otterbein in 2019, taking over as Senior Associate Athletic Director after spending 28 years on the sidelines as women's basketball head coach. During that time, she also served as an Assistant AD and Senior Women's Administrator.
Richardson, a 1986 graduate of Heidelberg, ranks as the winningest coach in women’s basketball at Otterbein, compiling a 382-344 record since arrival in 1991. She made an NCAA appearance in 2012-13 and advanced to a pair of OAC Tournament title games.
Richardson's culminated with a pair of strong seasons, posting 33 combined wins and upper-division finishes in the OAC. The Cards strung together a nine-game winning streak at one point that included a pair of wins over nationally-ranked opponents.
Richardson guided the program to its best season ever in 2012-13 by going 21-7 overall, advancing to the OAC Tournament championship for just the second time and making the school's first-ever NCAA appearance in women's basketball. The Cards would lose a hard-fought game to Marysville in the opening round. That memorable season culminated a two-year run that posted a combined 41-14 record,, achieving back-to-back 20-win seasons. Richardson is a two-time OAC Coach of the Year (2001 & 2005) and, in 2003-04, led Otterbein to a school record 23 wins and advanced to the OAC Tournament championship game for the first time in school history.
A four-year starter at Heidelberg, Richardson led the OAC in scoring (20.1 ppg) and rebounding (14.02 rpg) on her way to first team Kodak All-America honors her senior season (1985-86). She earned honorable mention All-America honors her junior year. The 5-10 forward collected first team all-conference honors twice (1985-86); served as co-captain for three seasons (1984-1986); and was selected “most valuable” by teammates in each of her four seasons.
Richardson spent three seasons (1988-91) as a graduate assistant at Capital University and received her master’s degree in Health and Physical Education from The Ohio State University in December 1989. In addition to her teaching and coaching duties, she is the assistant to Athletics Director Dawn Stewart.
Richardson has two children; a son, Nick, and daughter, Hannah, who recently graduated from Marietta College and played softball.
