Jeff Richards

Position: Assistant Coach Experience: 3rd Year Alma Mater, Year: Southern Utah, 1995

Jeff Richards enters his third season as assistant coach for the GymHawks. Before coming to Iowa, Richards was the head gymnastics coach at Winona State University from 2004-2005, and the head gymnastics coach at University of Wisconsin-Stout from 1998-2004. He previously worked as a student assistant women's gymnastics coach and assistant women's gymnastics coach for Southern Utah University. Richards has over 16 years of gymnastics coaching experience.

Throughout his career Richards has provided instruction for two NCGA division three nationals' competitors, seven NCGA All-American athletes, and eight All-Conference team members, and led the Wisconsin-Stout Blue Devils to their first Nationals appearance in 15 years. In each of his six years as Blue Devils head coach Richards led the team to record breaking seasons. In addition, Richards earned WIAC coach of the year honors for the 1999-2000, and 2000-2001 seasons, and NCGA Coach of the Year honors for the 1999-2000 seasons.

While assistant coach at Southern Utah, Richards increased the team score from 170 to 188 in his first year, had individual regional qualifiers each year and one national qualifier, and highly increased the recruiting caliber.