Charleston native Chris Richardson enters his fifth season as the Men's Basketball coach at Wheeling University during the 2024-2025 season. During his first four seasons, Richardson has compiled a 32-73 record overall and a 23-57 record in Mountain East Conference (MEC) play.
His fourth year at the helm of the Cardinals saw a vast improvement by the team, going 10-18 overall and 6-14 in MEC play. Richardson led his team back to the MEC Tournament as the #9 seed in the field, and they played a tough overtime game before falling to Notre Dame College 100-98. Under Richardson's watch, Marcus Johnson was named First Team All-MEC and earned NABC All-Region honors. It was the second straight year that the Cardinals had a first-team All-MEC honoree under Richardson. Richardson was also picked as a coach for the NCAA College Basketball Academy for the second straight season, where he will work with some of the top prospects in college basketball on and off the court.
In his third year at the helm of the Cardinals, they returned to the MEC Tournament for the third straight season under Richardson. Their roster wasn't where they would have liked it at 6-23 overall and 4-18 in MEC play, but the Cardinals played several close games, losing by five points or less in 11 of those 23 losses. The Cardinals made it to the First Round of the MEC tournament, but fell to Glenville State 96-84, ending their season. Under Richardson, John Korte earned the first First Team All-MEC honor of his career and reached the 1,000 point mark. Richardson helped Korte to become the third leading scorer in the conference, at 19.6 points per game.
In his second year with the Cardinals, Richardson's team made progress on the floor and got all the way to the MEC Semifinal Game against Rival West Liberty. They took their rival to the final buzzer, but fell 88-81 ending their run that saw the team go 10-20 and 8-14 overall. Under Richardson's watch, Jordan Reid and Jarett Haines each reached the 1,000-point mark in their careers and each earned All-MEC second team honors.
During his first season with the Wheeling Men's Basketball program, Richardson helped the team beat their preseason ranking, and find their way into the MEC Playoff Torunament. After defeating Alderson Broaddus in the first round, Wheeling would fall to The University of Charleston in the quarterfinals at WesBanco arena in Wheeling, WV. Under Richardson's guidance, Jordan Reid was named to the All-MEC Second Team.
Richardson spent the past six seasons as an assistant coach with the Mules. During his tenure in Warrensburg, Central Missouri went 104-73 and made an appearance in the NCAA Division II Tournament. This past season, UCM snapped defending-National Champion Northwest Missouri State's 46-game winning-streak and were the only team to defeat the Bearcats during the 2019-20 season.
Richardson helped guide the Mules to a 21-9 record and a 13-6 mark in the Mid-American Intercollegiate Athletes Association (MIAA) in his first season as a full-time assistant in 2015-16. The Mules finished second in the regular season conference standings and had a runner-up finish in the MIAA Tournament.
In six seasons at Central Missouri, the Mules had three seasons with 20 wins or more, made the NCAA postseason once, played in the MIAA Championship game and made the MIAA Tournament four times.
He arrived at Central Missouri at the start of the 2014-15 season after spending two seasons as the head assistant at Division II Delta State in Cleveland, Mississippi. Richardson helped engineer one of the nation's most impressive two-year turnarounds, taking a program that won just six games during the 2011-12 season to winning 38 games over the next two seasons, culminating with a berth in the NCAA Division II Tournament South Region Finals in 2014.
As recruiting coordinator, he signed 2014 and 2015 Gulf South Conference (GSC) Freshmen of the Year, 2014 GSC Player of the Year Willie Readus and the 2015 State Farm College Slam Dunk Champion Laquavious Cotton.
Richardson is familiar with the landscape of the Mountain East Conference (MEC). He served as an assistant coach for one season at both Fairmont State (2011-12) and the University of Charleston (2010-11).
Richardson got his first coaching job at Arkansas Tech University in 2009, where he worked alongside current Central Missouri Head Coach Doug Karleskint. He helped the Wonder Boys to a 30-2 record and number one national ranking during the 2009-10 season.
In 13 seasons of college coaching, Richardson has been a part of teams that have an overall record of 181-114, which includes five 20-win seasons, two conference championships, three NCAA tournament appearances and one conference tournament championship. During that span he has coached 22 all-conference players and three All-Americans.
Richardson began his career as an intern with the Memphis Grizzlies, where he worked for General Manager Chris Wallace. With the Grizzlies, Richardson was responsible for assisting Wallace and the basketball operations staff in preparations for the NBA Draft and summer free agency period. He also assisted the Grizzlies media relations staff with production of the team's media guide and content for Grizzlies.com.
Richardson is a 2008 graduate of West Virginia University. He earned his master's degree in Kinesiology from Central Missouri with a concentration in Sport Management. Richardson and his wife, Katie, are parents to their son, Cory and their daughter Carmen.
"This is exciting news for Wheeling University! Chris has prepared a long time for this opportunity, and he is ready to lead a college program. He will bring energy and enthusiasm to the Wheeling community. Chris has a passion for the game of basketball that will resonate with players and throughout the hills of the great state of West Virginia." –
Chris Wallace,
former Boston Celtics & Memphis Grizzlies General Manager
| 2020-21 |
6-12, 5-11 |
MEC Tournament Qualifiers |
| 2021-22 |
10-20, 8-14 |
MEC Tournament Qualifier |
| 2022-23 |
6-23, 4-18 |
MEC Tournament Qualifier |
| 2023-24 |
10-18, 6-14 |
MEC Tournament Qualifier |
| Totals |
32-73, 23-57 |
4X MEC Tournament Qualifier |
