Bill Richards retired in Summer 2025 after 53 years as head coach of Ball State men’s tennis, finishing as the winningest coach in program and Mid-American Conference history.
Few coaches in college athletics stay at one program for a decade—let alone more than five. But Bill Richards spent 53 consecutive seasons leading the Ball State men’s tennis team, a remarkable run that ended this Summer with his retirement as the winningest coach in Ball State and Mid-American Conference (MAC) history.
“Obviously, 53 years at one place, that’s a long story,” he said, reflecting on the span of his career.
Mr. Richards competed as a student-athlete at Western Michigan and served as a graduate assistant at Bowling Green before receiving a call from then–Ball State athletic director Ray Louthen. That call led to a head coaching offer—and the start of a storied career.
“My wife, Sue, and I were 24 years old, married, and had our first child,” he said. “Things were pretty crazy in those early years. I give my wife a lot of credit for giving me the flexibility to build a career.”
Over the next five-plus decades, Mr. Richards led the Cardinals to 769 wins—finishing with a 769-482 (.614) overall record and a 243-88 (.734) mark in conference play. His teams won 38 MAC regular season and/or tournament titles, made eight NCAA Tournament appearances, and posted 17 undefeated dual-match regular seasons in conference play.
“The biggest thing I take away from all my years here is the relationships that I’ve built, not just with our players and players’ families, but with all the coaches and administrators and support staff that have come through Ball State.” — Bill Richards
Among his favorite moments: winning Ball State’s first MAC championship in 1984 at Western Michigan—his alma mater.
“Winning our first championship at Western Michigan on the very same courts where I played as a college player was pretty neat and memorable,” he said. That victory launched a stretch of 12 consecutive MAC titles for the Cardinals through 1995.
Along the way, Mr. Richards coached numerous standout student-athletes—including 13 who would later be inducted into the Ball State Athletics Hall of Fame.
In 2023, Ball State recognized Mr. Richards’ impact by renaming its tennis facility the Foster Adams Family Tennis Complex and Bill Richards Tennis Courts. The name also honors Foster Adams, ’53, a former president of the Cardinal Varsity Club.
As Mr. Richards reflected on his career, he said the relationships he built with players, staff, and administrators will stay with him most.
One of his former players, Gene Orlando, ’87, was named his successor at Ball State. Mr. Orlando, who spent 31 seasons as head coach at Michigan State, praised his longtime mentor.
“He coached for 53 years, but he still brought it just like he used to,” Mr. Orlando said. “It was exhilarating just to be on the court with him and to see that he was still going strong. There was no coasting in for him. He ran through the finish line.”
