Last season, Richards guided Richmond to the top defensive unit in the country, allowing just 6.25 goals per game, highlighted by a shutdown performance of defending national champion UNC in a 6-5 Spiders victory. Two of the stars of that unit, Brendan Hynes and Benny Pugh, became the first All-Americans in program history, as well as both being drafted in the Major League Lacrosse draft.

Coach Richards brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to Richmond, head coach Dan Chemotti said. As a player and as a coach he has helped lead his teams to the NCAA playoffs, most recently helping lead Cornell to the NCAA Final Four in the 2013 season as their top assistant."

"To say that Coach Richards is hard working is an understatement, beyond that he is very professional, smart, honest, detail oriented, and loyal.

The Spiders continued their defensive success in 2016, finishing third nationally in scoring defense, allowing just 7.44 goals per game. The team also finished first in the nation in caused turnovers and clearing percentage for the second-straight year. Junior Brendan Hynes ranked second in the nation in caused turnovers, while junior Ryan Dennis ranked ninth nationally in the same category.

In 2015 Richmond finished 6-0 in the new league and boasted the nation's second-most stingy defense. The Spiders allowed just 7.44 goals per game, within less than half a goal per game from the nation's leader. Richmond also led the country in clearing percentage and finished fourth in the country in scoring margin, winning on average by more than four goals per game. The Spiders boasted the league's Defensive Player of the Year in Brendan Hynes, while goalie Benny Pugh was second nationally in both save percentage (.590) and goal-against average (7.42) for the year.

Richmond made the jump from 12th in 2014 to sixth in caused turnovers per game in 2015. Richmond also was the second-best in the nation in man-down defense, allowing opponents to score in less than a quarter of their man-advantage opportunities. In the program's 33 games, the opponent has been held to less than 10 goals in nearly half of them (16).