Five Minutes with Women's Basketball Coach Fred Richter

4/27/2020 2:00:00 PM | By: BJ Spigelmyer - DeSales SID

Center Valley, PA (April 27, 2020) - It is time to spend five minutes with the DeSales University women's basketball coach, Fred Richter, continuing our series of getting to know the head coaches a littler deeper than on the sidelines.

Richter just finished his 30th season with the Bulldogs leading DSU to its 16th 20+ win season in 2019-20. He is DeSales' all-time leader in wins boasting a career record of 581-245 (.703). Richter entered the 2019-20 season ranked 23rd on the all-time NCAA Division III Coaches wins list and 50th in winning percentage.

Richter has led DeSales to the post-season in 29 of his 30 seasons and have run off a string of 23-straight MAC Freedom postseason appearances. The Bulldogs took home their eighth MAC Freedom conference title this past season and advanced to the NCAA Tournament 12 times during Richter's tenure including Sweet 16 appearances in 2007-08 and 2018-19. He has been named the MAC Freedom Coach of the Year three times and was named the WBCA Region Coach of the Year twice.

1 - What made you get into coaching?
Coaching was and is my passion and direction since Junior High School. My enjoyment for people, education, and leadership are all encompassed in the game of basketball and this profession.

2 - Describe your journey to DeSales University?
The journey to Allentown College/DeSales University was a direct line of playing High School and college basketball to coaching Varsity Boys Basketball at Central Bucks East and Quakertown HS. I then took five years off to get my sanity back and got back into coaching Quakertown HS Girls for nine years before Father Gambet hired me 30 years ago.

3 - What has made DeSales University the right place for you to be a head coach for 30 years?
DeSales University is a great place to run a women's basketball program. We offer a tremendous education and an excellent learning environment. From day one thirty years ago I was accepted as the leader of the program with the backing of the administration. Most importantly I recruited and coached many self motivated young ladies driven to excel. Our talented young ladies are able to experience the Division III experience at a high level for three decades.

4 - Why should future DeSales student-athletes come play at DeSales?
Future student athletes looking at DeSales will be offered excellent educational opportunities, met with a beautiful campus, a proud and successful women's basketball program, and great people (students, professors, staff, coaches and administration).

5 - What is your favorite DeSales memory on the court as a coach?
My personal memories are many. I selected three: 1)The 1997-98 team led by great defense that won the first MAC Championship in our history at Elizabethtown. All American Kate Corcoran and Kate Baxter were our leaders. 2)Our first Sweet 16 appearance led by All-Americans LeighAnn Burke and Kim Rarick and an unselfish offensive team playing great defense. 3)Our recent most recent Sweet 16 appearance in 2018-19 led by All-American Morgan Birmelin that had depth and toughness on both ends of the floor.

6 - What was your favorite memory as an athlete back in your day of playing?
My favorite basketball experience was serving as a captain for the first 20 win season at East Stroudsburg University in 1970-71. We played basketball the "right way."

7 - Do you have any game day rituals?
My game day rituals are limited. I put our (-15/+15) in a box on the white board and thoughts to use as motivation after we go over the hard copy of our scouting report. We have a moment of silence for personal prayer and head out to the floor for game time. The -15/+15 thing is our goal for each quarter as in hold the opposition under 15 points and we score over 15 points. This ritual for the team is decades long.

8 - Who is your favorite team and/or player in your sport?
UCONN is my favorite women's basketball team. Sue Bird is my favorite player.

9 - Do you have a sports hero?
Sports hero: Michael Jordan

10 - What are your hobbies outside of coaching?
I enjoy traveling with my wife. We have been to London; Stonehenge; Ireland; France; Berlin; Amsterdam; Croatia; Venice, Rome, Tuscany, Capri; Greek isles; Switzerland; Zurich; Austria; Prague Budapest, traveled the Rhine, Danube, Seine; Barcelona, Spain; Portugal; Norway; Finland; Russia; Denmark; Tallinn Estonia; Alaska; Nashville - Memphis to New Orleans via the Mississippi River; Iceland; Hawaii; Nova Scotia; Montreal; Quebec; Toronto; Niagara falls; California; Florida; Jersey Shore; New York City; Las Vegas; Aruba; Cayman Islands; Curaçao; Barbados; Martinique; and Grenada. I also enjoy bicycling in the offseason riding several hundred miles every year.

11 - If you can imagine not coaching, what do you think you would be doing instead?
I was a high school social studies teacher for 34 years before moving to full-time at DeSales 15 years ago.

12 - Favorite Movie?
Movie: Hoosiers

13 - TV show you are watching right now? or Favorite TV series?
Favorite TV series: MASH

14 - Favorite Book?
Favorite book: Autobiography of Malcolm X

15 - Favorite food? Dessert?
Favorite Food: Pasta; Favorite Dessert: Pie (Cherry, pecan, or apple)

16 - Favorite Inspirational quote?
Quote: "Be who you are and be that well"