Paul Richards joined the Cornell men's lacrosse staff prior to the 2011 season and was named the Mario St. George Boiardi '04 Assistant Coach of Men's Lacrosse prior to the 2013 season. As an assistant coach on the staff, Richards undertakes a myriad of responsibilities. On the field, he is in charge of face-offs and substitutions, while assisting in all facets of the offensive unit. Richards also serves as recruiting coordinator for the staff as well as performing other administrative duties.
Last season, Richards directed a face-off unit that ranked 14th in the nation with a .546 winning percentage. Individually, he helped Doug Tesoriero ’14 to a .593 face-off win percentage, good for 13th in the country. He also helped the Big Red offense finish ranked ninth in the country in scoring offense (12.0 gpg), 13th overall in man-up offense (.422) and 16th in points per game (17.62).
In his first season with the Big Red, Richards developed Tesoriero, who over the final 10 games of the season won 78-of-134 (.582) face-offs. He also helped direct a Cornell offense that finished the year ranked second in the nation in scoring offense (12.71 goals per game), second in points per game (19.53), fifth in assists per game (6.82) and eighth overall in man-up offense (.408).
Richards spent the 2010 season working as the senior assistant coach and offensive coordinator at Washington College after spending one year as a volunteer assistant coach at Goucher College in 2009.
As a player, Richards was a first-team All-ECAC selection and North-South Senior All-Star at Loyola while serving as a team captain in 2008. He was also named to the preseason Tewaaraton Trophy Watch List as a senior and was tabbed as a 2008 National Strength and Conditioning Association All-American. He finished his college career with 29 goals, 27 assists and 159 groundballs. Following graduation, he was the 37th overall pick in the 2008 Major League Lacrosse Draft and appeared in six games for the Washington Bayhawks.
A local product that attended nearby Baldwinsville High School, Richards was an All-American for the Bees and was named the Central New York Player of the Year in 2004.
Richards earned a bachelor's degree in communications from Loyola in 2008.
* Updated June 2012
