AUBURN, Ala.—Scott Richardson, who has been an assistant coach with the Auburn track and field program since 2005 has been elevated to associate head coach, announced head coach Ralph Spry Tuesday. A 26-year coaching veteran, Richardson coaches Auburn's vertical jumps, multi events and assists head coach Ralph Spry with the men's sprinters.
"I am excited to promote Coach Richardson to associate head track and field coach," Spry said. "He has been a part of my staff for 16 years and has worked extremely hard and has certainly earned this opportunity and promotion. I'm looking forward to the continued success and building of our program with Coach Richardson assuming his new title."
Since his arrival at Auburn, his athletes have earned 21 All-American honors and 30 All-SEC honors, while two athletes were named academic All-Americans, and nine athletes have captured SEC titles. During his career, Richardson-coached athletes have won 117 individual conference championships and have been a part of 21 conference championship teams. Richardson has coached nine athletes that currently hold school records in their respected events.
"Coach Spry gave me a tremendous opportunity to join his staff when he brought me to Auburn sixteen years ago and it's been the best move of my professional career. In that time, I have been fortunate to work alongside coach for nearly a dozen NCAA Top-10 team finishes, including seven in the top five and a National Championship. I appreciate, more than I can say, him giving me this promotion to associate head coach."
Richardson also handles many administrative duties associated with the program, including serving as the meet director for all home meets, overseeing all scheduling and serving as the recruiting coordinator. He has served as meet director for the SEC Track and Field Championships and SEC Cross Country Championships hosted by Auburn.
"Coach Spry has been of great counsel to me and I will be forever grateful to him for this opportunity," Richardson said. "I would also like to thank Allen Greene and Brant Ust for their leadership and support in allowing Coach Spry to give me this opportunity. Their passion for developing Auburn men and women is evident and I am proud to be a part of the Auburn family."
Prior to his move to Auburn, Richardson spent the previous seven years as associate head coach at the United States Military Academy at West Point.
Richardson, who graduated from the University of Indianapolis in 1994, served as an assistant coach at Indianapolis in 1994, before becoming an assistant at Eastern Kentucky University from 1995-96. During his two years at EKU, Richardson assisted with four Ohio Valley Conference championship teams and coached Arnold Payne to All-American honors and a fifth-place finish at the 1995 NCAA Outdoor Championships.
In 1996, at the age of 25, Richardson took over as head coach at the University of Texas-Pan American, becoming the youngest Division I head coach in the country. He guided the women's and men's cross country programs to unprecedented heights, garnering first and third place finishes in the Sun Belt Conference. For his efforts, Richardson was voted by his coaching colleagues as the 1997 Sun Belt Conference Coach of the Year.
Richardson then serve as an assistant coach at Indiana University under U.S. Olympic Coach, Sam Bell, before taking his post at Army to work with another U.S. Olympic Coach, Jerry Quiller.
Richardson is married to the former Carmen Mann, herself a former four-time All-American track athlete. The couple has two children, 13-year-old daughter, Olivia, and 11-year-old son, Triston.