Sophia Venneri ’26
Athletics have been a crucial part of Mr. Zachary Richard’s life for as long as he can remember. Starting at a very young age, Richards explored a plethora of different sports and developed his love for multiple games. His appreciation for athletics is currently reflected in his position as the Varsity Head Coach of EA’s Boys’ Track Team, in which Richards has recently been named Coach of the Year by the Pennsylvania Track & Field Coaches Association (PTFCA).
Photo courtesy of Mr. Zachary Richards
Basketball, baseball, and football took precedence in his free time throughout his youth. His favorite sport was basketball as a young child, and he aspired to one day make it to the NBA, a dream shared by many youth basketball players. “Then I stopped growing and realized that was not going to happen,” Richards recalls.
At age seven, Richards was introduced to the sport he would eventually play for the next fifteen years with his father as his little league coach: football. As Richards explains, “I shifted towards a love of football because I just naturally excelled at it more.”
Richards’s entry into Upper Darby High School came with the continuation of playing football and the beginning of running track. He decided to prioritize football as his main athletic focus during high school. “I saw football as the best opportunity for me to open more doors,” he explains. Then, he began to pursue track as a way to better himself on the football field.
Richards attributes his success on the field to his work ethic. He remarks, “I just worked really hard. Not just in-season but off-season, too. It never stopped.” However, being a student-athlete is not easy, especially when competing at such a high level. Richards comments, “My greatest challenge as an athlete was dealing with failure, and as you move up, the challenges just get harder. I had to learn how to get better without being discouraged.”
His commitment and devotion to football paid off as he continued to play at the D1 level at Bucknell University. During his time at Bucknell, Richards earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration with a minor in Spanish. While playing football at Bucknell, Richards suffered an injury to his back, which prohibited him from playing his junior and senior years.
His injury led to a positive path in his life, as he remained part of the football program. Richards explains, “I had a really good coach who didn’t let me leave the team and took me under his wing to help coach. I needed that.” This was Richard’s first coaching position, which he describes as a “phenomenal experience.” Speaking about his coach at the time, Richards reflects, “Having support in place and leaning on people can help lead you to some really awesome journeys.”
After attending Bucknell, Richards became a grad assistant football coach at Widener University, where he eventually received a master’s in secondary education. While at Widener, Richards met Athletic Director Mr. Todd Fairlie through the football program. During Richard’s first year as a coach at Widener, he was one of Fairlie’s position coaches. The following year, Fairlie graduated and came on staff with Richards as another grad assistant coach. They coached while living together on campus for a year, forming a close bond. Afterward, they went their separate ways and ultimately reconnected years later at Episcopal.
Richards arrived at EA in 2011 as the Varsity Head Football Coach and coached the team for six seasons. In the spring of 2011, Richards was hired as the throwing coach for both boys’ and girls’ track. Richards eventually transitioned from being the Varsity Head Football Coach to becoming a class dean and then onto Varsity Head Boys’ Track Coach. Richards attributes his accomplishments as a coach to his ability to be empathetic. He explains, “It is crucial to be patient, flexible, and motivating. And have fun; do it because you enjoy helping others.”
Richards has made a tremendous impact on all of the kids that he has coached. He remarks, “I am trying to be the best coach I can be. Not to further my career but because I want to help as many kids as possible.” Fairlie explains how Richards is “enthusiastic and very positive with the students,” which leads to deeper connections with athletes along with a successful program. AJ (Alphonso) Koukou ’24 describes the unwavering support and positivity that Mr. Richards brings to practice daily. “He just wants to see everyone happy and succeed,” Koukou says. The combination of Richard’s work ethic and personable, positive attitude aids him in fostering a strong and connected team. Koukou adds, “I want to thank Coach Richards for always being there for athletes regardless of who they are and always supporting us.”
Photo courtesy of Mr. Zachary Richards
At practice, Richards strives to make a positive and lasting impact on his athletes. “He does a good job of keeping us on task during practice,” remarks Liam (William) Naylor ’26. Richards brings confidence and motivation to practice. His passion for his team and his love for coaching allow him to “get hype before each meet, providing excitement for the athletes,” explains Koukou. Fairlie speaks to Richard’s leadership quality of delegation, saying, “He also does a great job with really allowing his assistant coaches to take over in their expertise, such as Coach Farrell in long distance.”
Looking ahead, Richards is confident and hopeful that the team will be able to win the Delco Championship, Inter-Ac Championship, and PAISSA Championship this season. He is excited for his team to run at the Penn Relays and confident in their ability to qualify for Championship America. As Richards continues to coach the Varsity Boys’ Track team, he aspires to impact and uplift more athletes and students. Fairlie observes, “He does a great job bringing everyone together and that is what makes him a tremendous leader.”