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MUNCIE, Ind. – After more than five decades at the helm of Ball State University men’s tennis program, head coach Bill Richards has announced he will retire June 30, 2025.
Richards, who spent 53 seasons as head coach of the Cardinals, leaves as the winningest coach in Ball State and MAC men’s tennis history. Since taking the reins for the Cardinals in 1972, he has amassed a remarkable 769-482 (.614) overall record and a 243-88 (.734) league ledger. The Cardinals captured 38 MAC regular season and/or tournament titles, made eight NCAA Tournament appearances and had 17 undefeated regular seasons under Richards’ guidance.
“Ball State University has been immeasurably enriched by the talents of Bill Richards for more than five decades,” Ball State Director of Athletics Jeff Mitchell said. “His remarkable career exemplifies the model of excellence for which Ball State is known, and his leadership has made a positive impact on generations of student-athletes. I am grateful to Coach Richards for his devotion to our men’s tennis program and his commitment to making Ball State athletics a valuable asset in our community.”
Richards, a 15-time MAC Coach of the Year, has coached numerous players to national acclaim, including Matt Baccarani and Patrick Thompson, ranked as high as No. 4 in NCAA doubles during the 2005–06 season, and John Amos, who won a first-round singles match at the 1994 NCAA Championships. In 1991, Dan Kronauge and Paul Kruse captured the Volvo Collegiate Fall Championship and earned the No. 1 doubles ranking in the nation. In 1987, the doubles teams of Todd Hershey and Eric Nixon along with Gene Orlando and Marty Reist met in the finals if the Mid-west regional championship and were the only two teams from the Midwest NCAA Region to be selected to play in the NCAA tournament.
Eight of his student-athletes earned the MAC Player of the Year award, while 75 received First Team All-MAC honors. He also coached 12 individuals who have been inducted into the Ball State Athletics Hall of Fame, along with the 1989-90 men’s tennis team.
Richards was inducted into the Ball State Athletics Hall of Fame in 1993 and was the recipient of the Benny Award, the highest honor for services from the Ball State Alumni Association, in 2006.
He also became the only coach in Ball State history to receive the President’s Medal of Distinction, at the 2012 spring commencement ceremony. In addition, Richards received the 2014-15 NCAA Bob Frederick Sportsmanship Award and was recognized by the Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) with the 2018 ITA Meritorious Service Award, given annually to a coach who has gone above and beyond in their commitment and contributions to the ITA and college tennis in general.
Along with his work at Ball State, Richards served on the ITA Board of Directors and worked with the U.S. National Team, accompanying top junior players to major international tournaments including Wimbledon, the French Open and the U.S. Open.
A native of Sturgis, Michigan, Richards earned his bachelor’s degree from Western Michigan University and a master’s degree from Bowling Green State University. He played collegiate tennis at Western Michigan, where he was a MAC champion in both singles and doubles.
Richards started his collegiate coaching career as a graduate assistant coach at Bowling Green. He then served as the head tennis coach at Portage Central High School for one season before his appointment at Ball State.
Ball State will announce Richards’ successor at a later date.
