Story Courtesy: Tom Eiser, Xavier Athletic Communications
New Assistant Coach Announcement
Xavier University men’s basketball head coach Richard Pitino has officially appointed Kareem Richardson as an Assistant Coach. Richardson joins Xavier after spending the last three years at North Carolina State under Kevin Keatts. He is familiar with Xavier, having been part of the coaching staff during the 2011-12 season, where he contributed to the team reaching the NCAA Sweet 16.
Pitino’s Endorsement
“I am thrilled to welcome Kareem Richardson to our coaching staff,” commented Pitino. “He has experience winning a national championship and reaching the Final Four as a coach. Having previously worked at Xavier, he understands what it takes to succeed here. He is an exceptional recruiter and a talented coach with a wealth of experience.”
Previous Success at NC State
During his initial year at NC State, Richardson played a key role in leading the team back to the NCAA Tournament, finishing with a record of 23-11. The team excelled offensively, averaging 77.7 points per game and ranking seventh nationally with only 9.4 turnovers per game, also leading the ACC in steals and turnover margins.
Coaching Experience
Before joining NC State, Richardson was the head coach at UMKC from 2013 to 2019 and has held assistant positions at major programs including Louisville and Clemson. At UMKC, he led the team to a postseason tournament for the first time in the program’s 30-year Division I history, achieving several records in the process.
Career Highlights
Prior to UMKC, Richardson’s stint at Louisville was notable, contributing to the program’s Big East tournament win and subsequent NCAA Tournament success, culminating in a national title. His impactful coaching tenure at Xavier also saw the team achieving a Top 20 recruiting class in 2011.
Background and Academics
Richardson boasts a solid collegiate career as a player, beginning at East Carolina before transferring to Evansville, where he became the top point guard and earned accolades for academics and athletic performance. He graduated with a degree in telecommunications and interpersonal communication in 1997, and later obtained his MBA from the University of Indianapolis in 1999. Born in Tacoma, Washington, Richardson was recognized as an outstanding high school player, gaining first-team all-state honors in 1992.
