Men's Basketball: The Department of Athletics has hired a conditioning specialist for the men's and women's basketball programs.
Dave Richardson, formerly of the University of Miami (Fla.), has been hired as the associate strength and conditioning coach for Olympic sports, the Ohio State Department of Athletics released Tuesday. He will work with the men's and women's basketball teams at Ohio State. Richardson began his duties July 8.
"I am excited about the opportunity here at Ohio State," Richardson said. "Coach (Jim) Foster has a great women's basketball program and the men's team is up-and coming with Coach (Thad) Matta and his staff."
Prior to working with the men's basketball team at Miami, where he spent the last four years, Richardson worked for six seasons as the head strength and conditioning coach at the University of Louisiana at Monroe. Prior to his stint at Louisiana-Monroe, Richardson served five years as head strength and conditioning coach at Nicholls State University. Two of the seasons at Nicholls State he served as the head track and field coach. The Monroe, La., native also worked as the strength and conditioning coach for Central America's Davis Cup tennis team in 1991.
Richardson, who earned a bachelor's degree in health and human performance in 1989 and a master's degree in exercise science in 1990 from Louisiana-Monroe, has a strong background in power lifting. In 1984 he won the Alaska powerlifting state championship and was crowned the Louisiana state powerlifting champion in 1986 and 1987. In 1985 and 1986 he was the ArkLaMiss champion and was listed among the Powerlifting USA Top 100. In addition, Richardson served five years in the Army and was a member of the All-Army powerlifting team.
Just sayin': HE'S BACK!!!
Dave Richardson, who was Thad Matta’s strength and conditioning coach from 2005-17, is returning to Ohio State to fill the same role on Jake Diebler’s staff.
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Dave Richardson Returns to Ohio State As Men’s Basketball Strength and Conditioning Coach
After nearly a decade away from Columbus, Dave Richardson is returning to Ohio State.
Jake Diebler has added Richardson as the Buckeyes' strength and conditioning coach, the same position Richardson previously held from 2005-17, the Ohio State coach announced Monday.
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Throughout that 12-year stint, Richardson proved to be more than just a strength and conditioning coach for the Buckeyes, as former Ohio State star Deshaun Thomas explained that he provided OSU players with much more than just Richardson's title suggests.
"Coach Richardson was far more than a strength and conditioning coach to us at Ohio State," Thomas told
Eleven Warriors. "He consistently challenged us mentally and inspired us to perform at our highest level. He emphasized the values of toughness, discipline, and personal growth, helping shape us not only into better athletes but into responsible and resilient men.
"What distinguished Coach Richardson most was his emphasis on mental fortitude. He taught us how to persevere through adversity, how to continue pushing ourselves when fatigued, and how to compete with pride and commitment for the name on the front of our jerseys," he continued. "He made it clear that mental toughness was every bit as important as physical strength.
"Many of the lessons he taught me remained with me throughout my professional career overseas. In particular, during difficult fourth-quarter situations when exhaustion sets in and the outcome of the game is uncertain, mental and physical preparedness are what elevate performance to another level. Coach Richardson helped prepare us for those defining moments, and that is something I will always respect and deeply appreciate about him."
Richardson and Diebler were previously on the same coaching staff at Ohio State from 2013-16, when the current Buckeyes' head coach was Matta's video coordinator while Dave Dickerson was an assistant. Now, the three are reunited in Columbus.
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