University of Minnesota Athletics
Katie Richardson Comes Home as Assistant Coach
6/22/2020 9:22:00 AM | Softball
Head Coach Piper Ritter completed her coaching staff with the hiring of Katie Richardson, an All-American for the Gophers in 2013 and 2014.
"My second hire brings back one of Minnesota's finest," Ritter said. "I am extremely pleased to announce Katie Richardson as the assistant coach. Katie is no stranger to Minnesota Softball. On top of being a great softball player, she also excelled in the classroom and knows what it takes to be successful at Minnesota. I am confident in her ability to improve every student-athlete in this program and help them excel on and off the field."
Richardson joins the Minnesota coaching staff with Associate Head Coach Carly Wynn. The two crossed paths at Arizona State as assistants. Richardson spent the 2017 season as a volunteer assistant at ASU and was elevated to assistant coach for the 2018 campaign. In both seasons, she oversaw the infield and hitters and helped lead the Sun Devils back to the Women's College World Series in 2018. The ASU staff was named the NFCA West Regional Coaching Staff of the Year in 2018.
"As a player, I always envisioned myself returning to the University of Minnesota to coach the Gophers one day," Richardson said. "Thanks to Coach Ritter, this dream has become a reality. I am so grateful to her, Mark Coyle and the entire administration for the opportunity to coach at my alma mater and help take the Gophers back to the Women's College World Series. My time at Minnesota was special and I can't wait to share that experience with our current student-athletes, along with our future Gophers, and engage with the wonderful alumnae from all eras."
After her time at Arizona State, Richardson spent one year as a Special Assistant to the Athletic Director at Ball State University. She served in a variety of roles in support of the athletic director. She helped manage donor events, worked to create a new strategic plan for the entire athletic department and ran a marketing plan to increase student and fan attendance at major sporting events.
Most recently, Richardson was the Man & Woman of the Year Campaign Manager for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. She has also worked as the Director of Softball for Fishers Sports Academy. She established the softball side of the academy, which has historically been a baseball academy.
Richardson established herself as one of the most decorated softball players to come through Minnesota in her time as a player from 2012-15. She started every game, 224, and was a two-time All-American. Her career marks of 138 walks, 64 doubles and a .678 slugging percentage are all Minnesota records. Her 179 RBIs ranks second all-time, .388 batting average is third and 40 home runs is fourth in school history.
In the classroom, Richardson earned Academic All-Big Ten and Big Ten Distinguished Scholar honors in her time at Minnesota. She also earned 2013 CoSIDA Academic All-American honors as a third team honoree.
After her collegiate career ended, Richardson went on to play in the National Professional Fastpitch League with the Dallas Charge for two seasons where she earned 2015 All-NPF honors. She also spent one season as an undergraduate assistant coach for the Gophers in 2016.
"My second hire brings back one of Minnesota's finest," Ritter said. "I am extremely pleased to announce Katie Richardson as the assistant coach. Katie is no stranger to Minnesota Softball. On top of being a great softball player, she also excelled in the classroom and knows what it takes to be successful at Minnesota. I am confident in her ability to improve every student-athlete in this program and help them excel on and off the field."
Richardson joins the Minnesota coaching staff with Associate Head Coach Carly Wynn. The two crossed paths at Arizona State as assistants. Richardson spent the 2017 season as a volunteer assistant at ASU and was elevated to assistant coach for the 2018 campaign. In both seasons, she oversaw the infield and hitters and helped lead the Sun Devils back to the Women's College World Series in 2018. The ASU staff was named the NFCA West Regional Coaching Staff of the Year in 2018.
"As a player, I always envisioned myself returning to the University of Minnesota to coach the Gophers one day," Richardson said. "Thanks to Coach Ritter, this dream has become a reality. I am so grateful to her, Mark Coyle and the entire administration for the opportunity to coach at my alma mater and help take the Gophers back to the Women's College World Series. My time at Minnesota was special and I can't wait to share that experience with our current student-athletes, along with our future Gophers, and engage with the wonderful alumnae from all eras."
After her time at Arizona State, Richardson spent one year as a Special Assistant to the Athletic Director at Ball State University. She served in a variety of roles in support of the athletic director. She helped manage donor events, worked to create a new strategic plan for the entire athletic department and ran a marketing plan to increase student and fan attendance at major sporting events.
Most recently, Richardson was the Man & Woman of the Year Campaign Manager for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. She has also worked as the Director of Softball for Fishers Sports Academy. She established the softball side of the academy, which has historically been a baseball academy.
Richardson established herself as one of the most decorated softball players to come through Minnesota in her time as a player from 2012-15. She started every game, 224, and was a two-time All-American. Her career marks of 138 walks, 64 doubles and a .678 slugging percentage are all Minnesota records. Her 179 RBIs ranks second all-time, .388 batting average is third and 40 home runs is fourth in school history.
In the classroom, Richardson earned Academic All-Big Ten and Big Ten Distinguished Scholar honors in her time at Minnesota. She also earned 2013 CoSIDA Academic All-American honors as a third team honoree.
After her collegiate career ended, Richardson went on to play in the National Professional Fastpitch League with the Dallas Charge for two seasons where she earned 2015 All-NPF honors. She also spent one season as an undergraduate assistant coach for the Gophers in 2016.
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