Lana Richmond is in her 32nd season as head coach at Southeast Missouri.
Richmond, who has the longest consecutive tenure of any Southeast and current Ohio Valley Conference coach, ranks among NCAA Divison I head coaches in victories. She has compiled 600 NCAA Division I wins and 873 victories in her career.
Richmond first took over as head coach in 1982 and built her program from the ground up. She started with only two scholarships, and nine years later, guided her 1991 team to the school’s first-ever NCAA Final Four appearance. Richmond and that team were inducted into the Southeast Athletics Hall of Fame on Dec. 9, 2011.
Over the past 31 seasons, Richmond has experienced unparalleled success, climbing the ranks to become the winningest coach in Ohio Valley Conference history. She has led her Southeast Missouri teams to four NCAA Division II Tournament berths, one NCAA Division II Final Four, one NCAA Division I Tournament appearance, five OVC regular-season titles and five OVC Tournament crowns.
In three decades, Richmond has coached nine All-Americans, 37 First-Team All-OVC selections, four OVC Player of the Year honorees, three OVC Pitcher of the Year award-winners and one OVC Freshman of the Year.
Southeast Missouri was a Division II member and affiliate of the Missouri Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) during its first 10 seasons under Richmond. Southeast made NCAA Tournament appearances in 1986, 1987, 1989 and 1991 at that level. The 1986 squad finished with a school record 40 wins. Richmond’s efforts culminated in her being named the NCAA Division II Regional Coach of the Year in 1987 and 1991.
Richmond’s teams continued to achieve high levels of success after Southeast joined the NCAA Division I ranks in 1992. The Redhawks dominated the OVC in the 1990s, securing five-straight OVC regular-season championships (1995-99) and five OVC Tournament crowns -- including four in a row from 1996-99. The 1999 team, which went 31-17 overall and 16-2 in league play, advanced to the NCAA Regional in Tucson, Ariz. In addition, Southeast produced 30 or more wins in 10 of its 21 NCAA Division I seasons.
A five-time OVC Coach of the Year, Richmond has reached plenty of milestones throughout her decorated career.
She became the 42nd softball coach in NCAA history to get 800 career victories when the Redhawks beat SIU Edwardsville, 3-2, on Apr. 22, 2010. More recently, Richmond secured her 600th career NCAA Division I win when Southeast defeated regional-rival Southern Illinois, 14-7, on Apr. 25, 2013.
Richmond has coached over 300 student-athletes who have played the biggest part in making Southeast a valid contender year-in and year-out.
“It’s all about the student-athletes who have worn a Southeast uniform,” said Richmond. “They are the ones who have performed on the field. I have just been fortunate to guide them through this wonderful journey over the last 31 years.”
To Richmond’s credit, these individuals were just as impressive in the classroom.
In fact, the Redhawks ranked 86th among the 2012-13 National Fastpitch Coaches Association All-Academic Teams with a 3.16 GPA. It marked the 14th-straight season where Southeast has earned NFCA All-Academic recognition. Additionally, Southeast placed itself among the top-10 academic teams six times, with the 2002 squad earning the highest ranking after sporting the nation’s second-best GPA.
“This accomplishment is a tribute to our student-athletes and the high standards they have set for themselves,” commented Richmond. “This is reinforced by the priority placed on academics instilled in this program.”
Richmond has been a member of the NFCA since 1987 and served on the NCAA Division II All-American and Regional Ranking Committees. She last served a two-year stint on the NCAA Division I South Region Ranking Committee and NFCA Top-25.
A 1980 graduate of Berea College (Ky.), Richmond began her coaching career at Georgetown College, before becoming both the head volleyball and softball coach at Southeast.
As a volleyball coach, Richmond led Southeast to a 203-91 record in seven seasons before choosing to concentrate solely on softball.
Richmond also served as Senior Woman Administrator and Assistant Director of Athletics at Southeast for over 20 years prior to relinquishing those duties so she could devote more time to family and coaching softball.
“Coaching at Southeast has been an honor and I believe it has been my calling,” quoted Richmond. “I am grateful Southeast has granted me the opportunity to work and coach here.”
Richmond, and her husband, Tim, have a 21-year old daughter, Jordyn, who is a junior at Southeast Missouri.
