Softball taps former New Zealand national team coach – GW Hatchet

Media Credit: Photo Illustration by Jordyn Bailer | Assistant Photo Editor

Richards is the latest coaching staff addition under Head Coach Chrissy Schoonmaker, who was namedA-10 Coach of the Year last spring, guiding softball to a championship bid.

A former coach for New Zealands national baseball team joined softball as an assistant coach for the upcoming season last month.

Kris Richards who coached for the Baseball New Zealand national team for more than five years will bring extensive experience from the baseball diamond to the softball squad as part ofHead Coach Chrissy Schoonmakers staff. Richards served as a hitting coach for New Zealands U-15 and U-23 programs and managed the U-18 team before overseeing coach and player development from Baseball New Zealands administration.

Its an honor to take on this role and represent such a respected institution, Richards said in a release. I want to thank Coach Schoonmaker for giving me the opportunity to be a part of her experienced coaching staff. I am eager to get out on the diamond, meet the players and compete for an A-10 Championship.

Richards joins recent graduate Sierra Lange as the latest coaching staff addition under Schoonmaker, who was namedA-10 Coach of the Year last spring, guiding softball to an A-10 leading 36 wins and a championship bid.

We are thrilled to welcome Kris Richards to GW, to the softball program and to our coaching staff, Schoonmaker said in therelease. Kris has a passion for player development, a love of coaching and a deep knowledge of the game which will make an immediate impact.

Richards joined New Zealands national baseball organization in 2017, when he started as the U-15 hitting coach a position that earned himInternational Coach of the Year honors from international baseball agency Baseball Jobs Overseas.

He served as a regional development officer of the Wellington region of New Zealand the same year, where he oversaw administrative functions, like scheduling in-season games, coordinating coach and player development clinics, developing budgets and coaching elite players.

Richards got his first national coaching gig in the Czech Republic from 2015 to 2016 before heading to the Down Under, serving as hitting coach for theU-23 national team while also managing the Kotlka Praha baseball club in Prague, which he guided to its first-ever league title.

Richards played in the Baltimore Orioles minor league system for three seasons as an infielder and pitcher before Tommy John surgery gave way to his coaching career.

Kris has a wealth of experience at both the professional and international levels from his time in MLB and with Baseball New Zealand, and his offensive expertise will be a game changer for us, Schoonmaker said in the release. Kriss energy is infectious, and he will be an asset to our team culture and out on the recruiting trail. We look forward to seeing the lasting impact he has on our student-athletes.

This article appeared in the September 1, 2022 issue of the Hatchet.

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Softball taps former New Zealand national team coach - GW Hatchet