Former Cougar infielder Tommy Richards helped the Cougars return the NCAA Tournament in his second season as an assistant coach after joining Nathan Choate’s coaching staff in June of 2024. Richards was promoted to the Cougars' recruiting coordinator and infield coach in June, 2025.
In his second season at WSU and first as the recruiting coordinator and infield coach, Richards helped the Cougars to a 2026 Mountain West Conference Championship and the program’s first trip back to the NCAA Tournament since 2010. Washington State finished the season with a 31-28 record, the most wins since the 2010 season, including WSU’s first conference championship since 1976. The Cougars posted seven series wins for the first time since 2017, had six-straight series wins for the first time since 1995 and posted 18 road wins, the second-most road wins since 2000. Richards coached a pair of All-Mountain West infielders Gavin Roy and Ryan Skjonsby while MWC Pitcher of the Year Nick Lewis also earned the National Gold Glove Award for a pitcher, just the second Gold Glove in WSU history. As a team, the Cougars led the Mountain West and were fifth nationally with 56 double plays turned.
In 2025, Richards coached the outfielders and baserunners in his first season as the Cougars’ assistant coach and helped WSU finish fourth in the Mountain West Conference in stolen bases (42) while outfielder Logan Johnstone earned All-MWC first-team honors.
Richards has served as the head coach at Bushnell University (NAIA) for the past three seasons after the school started the baseball program in 2022. The Beacons increased their win total each season under Richards, capped by 29-win 2024 campaign that saw Bushnell win the Cascade Collegiate Conference Tournament Championship and earn the program’s first NAIA National Tournament appearance in school history.
In 2024, Richards saw his Bushnell club post a 29-win season while three players earned All-Cascade Collegiate Conference including two who received Gold Gloves as well. Six Beacons hit over .300, three players hit double-digit home runs and as a team, Bushnell was third in the conference with a .289 team batting average and second with 57 home runs. Following the season, Richards was named the Cascade Collegiate Conference Coach of Character given to the Coach who represents the core values of the NAIA – Respect, Responsibility, Integrity, Sportsmanship and Servant Leadership.
Richards went to Bushnell after spending six seasons as a top collegiate assistant including stints at NCAA DIII Whitman College (Walla Walla, Wash.) and Lindenwood University–Belleville, an NAIA school in Illinois.
Richards, a former infielder played for Washington State (2009-12), appeared in 155 career games, played on two NCAA Tournament teams in 2009 and 2010 and was later drafted by the Baltimore Orioles in the 24th round of the 2012 MLB Draft.
While playing for the Cougars, he spent two summers playing for the West Coast League's Bend Elks in his hometown. In 2009, Richards helped push the Elks to the playoffs and in 2010 he batted .364 to capture the WCL batting title and earn league MVP honors. After three seasons in professional baseball, he began his coaching career at Lindenwood - Belleville.
Richards earned his bachelor’s degree in social sciences from Washington State University and his MBA from Lindenwood University.
Richards and his wife, Jessica (also a Coug alum), have three children, Hank, George, and Lou.