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Rena Richardson Named Tulsa Women's Soccer Head Coach
12/19/2003 12:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer
Dec. 19, 2003
Tulsa, Oklahoma - The University of Tulsa has named Rena (Ree-nuh) Richardson as the women's soccer head coach, as announced today by Director of Athletics Judy MacLeod. Richardson becomes the fifth head coach in the 17-year history of the Tulsa women's soccer program.
"My family and I are excited to be a part of The University of Tulsa family and we are looking forward to a bright future in Tulsa," Richardson said. "Tulsa has a great community and an amazing University, both academically and athletically. I feel very honored and blessed to be able to work with such an incredible administration and coaching staff. I believe the current team is committed to winning, as I am. I look forward to getting to know the players and building toward a winning season in 2004."
Richardson, 32, comes to Tulsa after spending the last three seasons as an assistant coach at the University of Alabama, where she helped the Crimson Tide post a three-year mark of 31-21-5.
Prior to Alabama, Richardson spent two seasons as the head coach at the University of Louisiana-Monroe, where she undertook the difficult task of starting a Division I women's soccer program, and led the team to 10 wins
Before her head coaching job at Louisiana-Monroe, Richardson was an assistant coach at Texas A&M University for two seasons. She helped the Aggies compile a two-year record of 32-11, including an 18-3 record in 1997 and a Big 12 Conference regular season and tournament championship. The Aggies advanced to the NCAA Tournament both years.
"We're extremely pleased to have Rena Richardson as our new women's soccer coach," said MacLeod. "Rena has the enthusiasm necessary for success in today's competitive soccer environment. She possesses the coaching ability, organizational skills, and the personal characteristics and qualities we were looking for in a head coach."
Richardson played collegiately at Hardin-Simmons where she was a four-year letterwinner as a midfielder, and also served as a team captain for four seasons. She was the team MVP in 1990 and 1993 and completed her career ranked second on the school's all-time scoring list with 92 points on 36 goals and 20 assists.
A native of El Paso, Texas, Richardson graduated from HSU with a bachelor's degree in criminal justice and a minor in sociology in 1994. Richardson served as the interim head coach at her alma mater for the 1994 campaign and was named the head coach the following season. She spent a total of three years at Hardin-Simmons and led the team to an 11-9 overall record and a conference title in 1996. She was named the conference coach of the year that same season. She currently holds a United States Soccer Federation B national coaching license.
Richardson and her husband, Kevin, have two sons: Bryce (5) and Ty (7 mos.).
