Diane Richardson is an American basketball coach and currently the Head Coach of Temple Owls women's basketball team. Prior to coaching at Temple, she was head coach at Towson University from 2017 to 2022, an assistant coach and recruiting coordinator at West Virginia University from 2016 to 2017, following coaching stints at George Washington University from 2012 to 2016, the University of Maryland from 2007 to 2008, and American University from 2006 to 2007.

Diane Richardson
Current position
TitleHead coach
TeamTemple
ConferenceThe American
Record31–30 (.508)
Biographical details
Alma materFrostburg State
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
2000–2006Riverdale Baptist School (GA)
2006–2007American (assistant)
2007–2008Maryland (assistant)
2009–2012Riverdale Baptist School
2012–2016George Washington (assistant)
2016–2017West Virginia (assistant)
2017–2022Towson
2022–presentTemple
Head coaching record
Overall111–96 (.536)
Tournaments
Accomplishments and honors
Championships
Awards
  • CAA Coach of the Year (2019)
  • AAC Coach of the Year (2024)

Early life

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Diane Richardson obtained her bachelor's degree in psychology and sociology from Frostburg State University where she participated in basketball and track and was a 1979 NCAA champion in both 200- and 400 meter races. In 1980 she earned a spot at the 1980 Summer Olympics but didn't participate. Four years later, she got her master's degree in management from Central Michigan University. She also was a founder of American Security Companies and Vice President of Bank of America's lending marketing team.[1]

Coaching career

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Riverdale Baptist High School

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From 2001 to 2006 she coached at Riverdale Baptist High in Upper Marlboro, Maryland, during which time her team won five championships.

American University

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Following her success at Riverdale Baptist, she was hired as an assistant coach at American University.

Maryland

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Richardson was hired as an assistant at Maryland in 2007 replacing Joanna Bernabei.

Return to Riverdale Baptist

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Richardson returned to Riverdale Baptist as head coach in 2009 until 2012.

George Washington

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In 2012, she was hired as an assistant coach at George Washington who went from 11 wins to 29 in just four years due to her coaching and made the NCAA Tournament in 2015 and 2016.

West Virginia

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In 2016, Richardson was hired as an assistant coach at West Virginia Mountaineers.

Towson

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In 2017 she was named the Head Coach of Towson Tigers women's basketball team.[2] Her 2018–19 season began with signing of six new recruits.[3] In the 2018–19 season, Richardson coached the Tigers to the first-ever CAA Championship title and the program's first appearance in the NCAA Tournament.[4] She was named CAA and ECAC Coach of the Year.

Temple

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Diane Richardson was named the 21st head women's basketball coach of Temple University on April 5, 2022. On April 20, 2022, Richardson and Temple announced that 5 members of her coaching staff at Towson, including associate head coach Zach Kancher would be joining her staff at Temple. [5]

Head coaching record

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Statistics overview
Season Team Overall Conference Standing Postseason
Towson (Colonial Athletic Association) (2017–2022)
2017–18 Towson 9–21 4–14 9th
2018–19 Towson 20–13 11–7 T–3rd NCAA First Round
2019–20 Towson 14–15 9–9 4th
2020–21 Towson 13–9 8–6 T–3rd
2021–22 Towson 24–8 14–4 3rd WNIT First Round
Towson: 80–66 (.548) 46–40 (.535)
Temple (American Athletic Conference) (2023–present)
2022–23 Temple 11–18 6–10 T–8th
2023–24 Temple 20–12 13–5 T–1st
Temple: 31–30 (.508) 19–15 (.559)
Total: 111–96 (.536)

      National champion         Postseason invitational champion  
      Conference regular season champion         Conference regular season and conference tournament champion
      Division regular season champion       Division regular season and conference tournament champion
      Conference tournament champion

Personal life

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Richardson is married and has four children.[6]

References

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  1. ^ "Towson names Diane Richardson women's basketball coach". The Baltimore Sun. June 28, 2017. Retrieved November 10, 2018.
  2. ^ "Richardson Named Women's Basketball Head Coach". Towson University. June 28, 2017. Retrieved November 10, 2018.
  3. ^ "Tigers Welcome Incoming Class of Six for 2018-19". Towson University. November 8, 2017. Retrieved November 10, 2018.
  4. ^ "CLOSING BURST LIFTS TOWSON TO CAA CHAMPIONSHIP". March 16, 2019. Retrieved November 22, 2019.
  5. ^ "Richardson Named Women's Basketball Head Coach". Towson University. June 28, 2017. Retrieved November 10, 2018.
  6. ^ "Diane Richardson Named Temple University Women's Basketball Head Coach". Temple University. April 5, 2022. Retrieved April 8, 2022.