On January 22, 2015, Western Illinois Athletics announced the hire of Kelly Richardson as head coach of the Leatherneck Volleyball program.
Richardson takes over a Western Illinois program that finished 6-23 overall and 4-12 last year in the Summit League, placing eighth out of nine teams. Western has not turned in a winning overall record since the 2005 season, and owns a .325 combined winning percentage over the last seven seasons. She becomes the program’s 10th head coach dating back to the 1976 season.
Richardson is no stranger to turning around programs. During her seven years in charge of
Southwest Baptist University (Missouri), the 2013 team turned in its first winning season since 1987, finishing 17-14 overall and tying for the best record in program history.
"I would like to thank Tommy Bell, and the rest of the search committee for giving me the opportunity to join the Leatherneck family. From the moment we stepped on campus my family and I felt at home,” said Richardson. “We are grateful to be a part of such a wonderful community and university. I am excited to start working with the team as we move the program forward in a positive direction."
In her first year (2007), the team nearly doubled its win total from the previous year and won its first home Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association (MIAA) conference match in seven years. Southwest Baptist earned a regional ranking in 2008, the first time in history to earn that honor, while doubling the win total in conference play.
During her seven-year tenure, she coached the Bearcats to double-digit wins six times – the longest stretch in program history and first multi-year stretch dating back to 1987-89. She posted an 83-147 record at Southwest Baptist, and was 52-53 in non-conference matches.
Richardson spent the 2014 season as an assistant coach at Texas-Arlington, helping the Mavericks to a 25-9 overall record and 14-6 in the Sun Belt Conference. UTA posted the best season record in two decades, had two All-SBC selections and one American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) Honorable Mention All-American.
For two years Richardson was the head volleyball coach at Republic High School (2005-06) in Missouri. The 2005 team made its first-ever trip to the state tournament, taking third place. She coached three All-State honorees during her tenure.
Richardson began her collegiate playing career at Missouri State before transferring to Evangel University. During her final three years (2001-03), Richardson was a three-time First Team All-Conference selection, twice named National ‘Player of the Week’, and became the first player in program history to earn NAIA All-American honors. Richardson was an Honorable Mention All-American selection her junior year and earned Third Team honors as a senior. During her three-year career, she earned 10 All-Tournament team accolades and set five program records.
She and her husband Robb have one son, Rylan.
