Falcons men’s basketball opens a new chapter on Monday with the introduction of new head men’s basketball coach Zac Richards, who takes over a program that saw NCAA Tournament selection in each of the last two season. Coach Richards will be officially introduced on Monday, May 11 at a meet and greet event hosted by Main Street Tavern from 5-7 p.m.
“We are excited to welcome Zac as the newest member of the Montevallo coaching staff,” said Montevallo Vice President for Athletics and Special Programs Mark Richard. “Zac has a proven track record of success at his previous institutions and has led teams to post season success at every stop in his career. His mind for the game and his commitment to excellence make Zac a great fit for our program.”
“It is an honor to be named the head coach of the University of Montevallo’s Men’s Basketball program,” said Richards. “I want to thank Interim University President Dr. Terry Roberson, Athletic Director Mark Richard, and Assistant Athletic Director Chandler Rose for giving me this opportunity. I’d also like to thank Coach Chris Graves for his mentorship throughout the past 17 years. I would not be who I am today without his leadership and investment in my life. It is a privilege to become a part of the Falcons family, and I can’t wait to get started.”
Richards joins the Montevallo coaching staff after spending the last three seasons at the helm of Huntingdon College. In his time in Montgomery, Ala., Richards tallied a 48-32 overall record for a .600 winning percentage while posting back-to-back seasons of over a .500 winning percentage for the first time in Huntingdon’s history since 2006. At the conclusion of the 2024-25 season, Richards led the Hawks to a Collegiate Conference of the South Tournament title and the program’s first selection to the NCAA Tournament in the program’s history. In his time at Huntingdon, Richards led 12 student-athletes to Collegiate Conference of the South All-Conference honors with five of those members named First Team All-Conference.
Prior to his tenure at Huntingdon, Richards spent ten seasons under Chris Graves at Birmingham-Southern College where he helped lead the Panthers to a pair of conference titles while adding a perfect 17-0 conference record, clinching the Southern Athletic Association regular season and tournament titles, and a trip to the Round of the 32 in the NCAA Tournament. In his time at BSC, Richards also sat at the helm of the Panthers JV program where he developed and implements offensive and defensive systems, recruited throughout the southeast and created advanced statistical analysis on opponents. Richards specialized in individual player development while also leading the Panthers’ strength and conditioning program.
Before his time at BSC, Richards spent one year at Homewood High School as the Assistant Men’s Basketball Coach and Strength and Conditioning Coach.
In his playing career, Richards played four seasons at Birmingham-Southern where he was named Academic All-American, Honorable Mention All-American, All-Region, All-District and All-Conference while also earning a career scoring mark of 1,041 points. During his time on the court, Richards led BSC to the program’s first NCAA Tournament appearance while finishing his playing career with an overall record of 88-20, including all four seasons at 20 wins or more, and a home record of 54-2.
Richards earned his bachelor’s degree in mathematics from BSC in May of 2013 after earning a mechanical engineering degree from the University of Alabama in Birmingham in 2012.
What they are saying about Coach Richards
“He was an outstanding player in both high school and of course at Birmingham Southern. He was not only an outstanding player, but he was an outstanding student. He has been able to take that brilliancy in academics and combine it with his experience in athletics. He’s an outstanding coach with a very bright future. I think Montevallo is very wise to select him as their new basketball coach. I think he’s a player’s coach and a student of the game. He’s not afraid to inquire about different styles of play and different methods of teaching the game. It’s a great situation for Montevallo and a great situation for Zac.”
-Duane Reboul, Special Assistant to the Head Coach Samford University
“Coach Richards is an excellent hire for the University of Montevallo. He is an incredibly gifted basketball coach, and one of the brightest young minds in college basketball today. He is a championship level coach who combines his analytical approach with his feel for the game. Coach Richards sets himself apart from other coaches by how much he cares for his players and develops a relationship with everyone on his roster. Montevallo couldn’t have found a better person for this job. I am looking forward to following this program’s success!”
-Zach Allison, Head Coach Mountain Brook High School
“This is a great hire for Montevallo. Zac is a unique combination of a player’s coach, who will help develop men both on and off the court, coupled with a brilliant tactician of the game. His player development skills and X & O abilities have allowed his teams to consistently exceed expectations. I expect great things for the Falcons program under his leadership.“
-Chris Graves, Head Coach Albertville High School
D2 NEWS: Richards named Head Basketball Coach at Montevallo
