(Story courtesy of United Soccer Coaches website)
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – United Soccer Coaches is proud to announce Horst Richardson as the 2017 Honor Award recipient in recognition of a distinguished career in college athletics, tremendous service to the association and exemplary contributions to the coaching profession.
"We are delighted to recognize Horst Richardson for an extraordinary career in coaching and giving back to his profession through service to his institution, college soccer and our association" said Charlie Slagle, United Soccer Coaches President. "His success on the field is evident but it is has been his extensive and unselfish involvement off the pitch that should be an inspiration for other coaches."
Richardson, 76, compiled the sixth most wins of any coach in men's college soccer history with a 567-304-71 record at Colorado College, where he was hired as an assistant coach in 1965 before serving as head coach for nearly 50 years from 1966 until his retirement in 2014. He led the Tigers to seven Rocky Mountain Intercollegiate Soccer League titles and 19 appearances in the NCAA Division III Championship while earning United Soccer Coaches Regional Coach of the Year honors on five occasions. He was a two-time SCAC Men's Soccer Coach of the Year (2012 and 2014).
In addition, Richardson was awarded a Letter of Commendation by United Soccer Coaches in 1997 and received the Bill Jeffrey Award in 2000 for long-term service to college soccer and his support of the association. His involvement with the association dates back to 1966 and over the course of his career, he was a member of the Intercollegiate Soccer Association of America ratings boards and Soccer Journal editorial board, chaired the International Committee and Bill Jeffrey Award committee, served as a regional representative and hosted United Soccer Coaches courses on campus at Colorado College.
"I am honored and humbled by this recognition," Richardson said. "For more than 50 years, I attended the annual banquet at the Convention, watching legends walk across the stage to receive the Honor Award and I never imagined I would be in their distinguished midst. I am very, very grateful to receive this award."
Together with his wife of 50 years, the Horst and Helen Richardson Scholarship fund was established through the United Soccer Coaches Foundation for coaches serving the soccer community in the region of Colorado, New Mexico and Arizona, where the Colorado College men's soccer program regularly conducted philanthropic projects for Native American communities.
A Colorado Springs resident, Richardson has also generously donated his time and talents within the local community, acting as a past president of the Colorado Springs Board of Education and a state coach in Colorado for U.S. Soccer. He received the Colonel F. Don Miller Sports Service Award from the Colorado Springs Sports Corporation and was inducted into both the Colorado Springs Sports Hall of Fame and Colorado Soccer Hall of Fame.
Born in Nürnberg, Germany, during World War II, Richardson immigrated to California in 1955 and attended the University of California-Riverside for his bachelor's and master's degrees before earning his Ph.D. from the University of Connecticut. In addition to coaching, he was employed by Colorado College as a professor in the school's German department for 43 years, specializing in German play productions.
Awarded annually since 1942, the Honor Award is one of United Soccer Coaches two most prestigious accolades and Richardson becomes the 78th recipient of the award in the association's storied history. Richardson will formally accept the Honor Award on January 19 at the 2018 United Soccer Coaches Convention in Philadelphia.