BLUFFTON – It’s something most athletes only dream of.
Former Bluffton football player Jeff Richards is now living his dream.
After the resignation of Kyle Cutnaw (after two seasons), Richard’s opportunity to return to Bluffton and coach became a reality.
“Having gone to school here, played here – and with my father (Mike Richards) being the former head coach here – I grew up on this field,” Richards said. “I remember playing midget ball on this field. My whole family has played on this field. It’s a nostalgic thing, but I also recognize the tradition and I realize the expectations of the alumni. So, I really push the players, so they understand what the community expects of them as well.
“I used to joke when I was younger about coming back to Bluffton, coaching and winning a championship in my hometown. That part has worked out, so now I have to get that championship.”
This will be Richards’ first stint as a head football coach. He also coached wrestling at Bath this past season.
After playing football at Bluffton University, Richards coached tight ends for two seasons there. Most recently, Richards spent two seasons in Louisville, Kentucky at DuPont Manual High School, where he coached the offensive line.
With being a former football player at Bluffton, Richards realizes the importance of being competitive every year.
“I was here when we were extremely successful and made the playoffs three out of four years,” Richards said. “My expectations are super high because that’s all I know of Bluffton football.”
Bluffton is coming off a 7-3, 4-3 (Northwest Conference) season in 2015.
Alongside Richards this season will be his father Mike Richards, a former Bluffton head coach, as well as Bluffton University assistant coach.
“He’s coaching quarterbacks for me,” Jeff Richards said. “He’s providing that elderly wisdom when he wants to. When I was young I was too big to play midget football, so I was his cord boy on the sideline at Bluffton (University).
“So, I watched him (his father) coach growing up. And to get an opportunity to coach with him, I couldn’t ask for a better person to help me out in my first (head coaching) job.”
Richards wants to see a more balanced offensive scheme from his team. In the past, Bluffton was known to spread it out and throw the football.
“We’re changing the culture. It’s been a little over a decade that Bluffton has been a spread team,” Richards said. “My senior year is the first year we went to the spread, and we were extremely successful.
“Over the years it got to be where they really didn’t have the personnel to be a spread team. We’re going back to more of a run-balance team; a lot more of a pro-style approach to it. We have a backfield that is fabulous. We have a backfield that probably in my generation, three of them might had gone for 1,000 (rushing) yards in a season. We have those pieces. The issue is changing the mentality to an attack-rushing team.
“I’ve heard it described as a smash-mouth spread. We’ll spread them out, but we’re still going to try to run the football. You’re not going to see us throwing it more than we’re running it.”
Richards said he has the athletes available to fill those roles.
“We have two all-conference players coming back,” Richards said. “Dustin Falk (Sr.) was an all-conference running back. Kaleb Jefferson (Jr.) will be carrying the ball a good amount also. He (Jefferson) was an all-conference linebacker. We also have two fullbacks who are both over 200 pounds. And we have Dakota Bricker (Jr.) coming back who is a really shifty type of guy. Skill position-wise, we have a great group of athletes.”
Falk likes Richards’ philosophy.
“The conditioning is really hard,” Falk said. “It’s the most we’ve conditioned, and with the team we have, we need to be that way. We’re going to run the ball. So, we have to be in good shape. I’m pretty excited. I can’t wait to play Friday nights.”
Added Jefferson, “It’s a lot more intense. He’s making it fun at the same time. We’re working a lot and trying to do the best with what we got.”
Probably the biggest question mark for the Pirates will be replacing Mitchell Ault at quarterback. Ault was a three-year starter behind center.
Heading into summer camp, Jason Bracy (Sr.), Brice Rayle (Jr.) and Dakota Bricker (Jr.) were all vying for the starting job.
Richards is looking for immediate success from his team this season.
“Defensively, we’re pretty sold,” he said. “We have a lot returning on that end. We’ll see how it shakes out. I have high expectations. I expect to succeed right off the bat. Our schedule is set up where I think we can be very successful.”
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