(Story Courtesy of Colorado College Sports Information Department)
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – Legendary Colorado College men's soccer coach Horst Richardson completed his career hat trick of the three most prestigious United Soccer Coaches awards with his election to the organization’s Hall of Fame.
Richardson, along with Joe Palone (United States Military Academy) and Sigi Schmid (UCLA and multiple MLS franchises), will be honored during the United Soccer Coaches Digital Convention, Jan. 11-15, 2021.
“This is an award for myself and my wife, Helen, who has been with me every step of the way,” Richardson said. “We are completely overwhelmed.
“The gratitude I feel for being recognized is such an emotional gift. I am thankful and will forever cherish this recognition.”
Receiving honors and awards from the United Soccer Coaches, formerly the National Soccer Coaches Association of America, is nothing new for Richardson.
In 2018, he became the 78th recipient of the Honor Award, which recognizes the career of a coach whose work within the association has enhanced the soccer coaching profession and contributed to the game as a whole.
“I was stunned when I received the Honor Award in 2018,” Richardson said. “I never expected to be recognized at that level. Induction into the Hall of Fame certainly trumps that. Receiving the call was like a bolt out of the clear blue sky.”
Richardson, who retired from coaching after the 2014 season, completed his career with a 567-304-71 record at CC, where he was hired as an assistant coach in 1965 before serving as head coach of the Tigers for the next 49 seasons.
“On behalf of Colorado College and our athletic department I want to congratulate Horst for this well-deserved honor,” Colorado College Vice President and Director of Athletics Lesley Irvine said. “Horst’s career is remarkable and to receive this type of recognition speaks to the impact he has had over multiple decades as a head coach. Congratulations Horst!”
In addition to compiling the sixth-most wins in men's college soccer history, Richardson led the Tigers to seven Rocky Mountain Intercollegiate Soccer League titles and 19 appearances in the NCAA Division III Championship. He was a five-time recipient of United Soccer Coaches Regional Coach of the Year honors.
“Not many coaches have had the pleasure of coaching at a place like Colorado College,” Richardson said. “I have had the pleasure of coaching so many wonderful young men along the way, and I certainly share this award with them.”
In 2016, the Horst and Helen Richardson Scholarship fund was established 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.
Richardson received the Bill Jeffrey Award in 2000 for long-term service to college soccer and his support of the association, and was awarded a Letter of Commendation by the NSCAA in 1997.
Richardson's involvement with the association dates back to 1966 and during the course of his career, he served as 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 association courses on campus at Colorado College.
“Few soccer coaches have done as much as coach Richardson to elevate the profile of American soccer,” current CC head coach Scott Palguta said. “Of course, there were many, many wins in his 50 years at Colorado College, but there were also a great number of soccer camps, clinics, coaching seminars, and community service hours.
“Horst was my coaching mentor and I am most grateful for the opportunities he provided me at Colorado College. His name will forever be synonymous with CC men’s soccer.”
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.
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