Jan. 16, 2014
LEXINGTON, Ky. — Former Dartmouth all-conference performer Lucas Richardson has been elevated to the director of operations for the Kentucky men’s soccer program, it was announced on UK head coach Johan Cedergren on Thursday.
Richardson is in his second year on the UK staff, after serving as the volunteer assistant coach during the 2013 season. Richardson replaces former UK star Marco dos Santos, who earned his master’s degree while working as the graduate assistant director of operations in 2011-12.
A native of Englewood, Colo., Richardson had a decorated playing career at Dartmouth, helping the Big Green to a pair of Ivy League Championships. After he completed his playing career, Richardson worked alongside Cedergren as an assistant coach on the 2010 Dartmouth staff.
“Lucas is a great addition to our staff,” Cedergren said. “Having him here as our volunteer assistant in 2013 was a great blessing because he got to work alongside Marco and learn the nuances of the position. Lucas is highly educated, has great soccer knowledge, has a tireless work ethic and brings an infectious personality to our program.”
Richardson was a member of the Dartmouth team from 2003-06, winning Ivy League Championships in 2004 and 2005, with the team advancing to the NCAA Tournament in 2005. A defender, Richardson earned All-Ivy League honors as a sophomore and junior and was named third-team All-New England as a junior. As a senior, Richardson served as a team captain.
“I am very excited to get to continue to work with coach Cedergren on the UK staff,” Richardson said. “The commitment that the University of Kentucky, the department and Mitch Barnhart are putting behind the men’s soccer program is really special and something I want to be a part of. Johan, David (Casper) and Chase (Wileman) have formed a uniquely talented coaching staff and it is a great honor to get to work alongside them every day.”
He has coaching experience at the youth level, having coached club and high school teams in Zambia, New Hampshire and Colorado. Since graduating in 2007, Lucas has worked in youth development at the non-profit and high school level. He spent two years Grassroot Soccer, and a year as the program director for America SCORES in Denver. While working for Grassroot Soccer, Lucas spent a year in Lusaka, Zambia helping to support the program’s HIV prevention and youth development efforts there. After returning to Dartmouth for a season as an assistant men’s soccer coach, Lucas spent two years teaching high school social studies and coaching soccer in Denver, Colorado.
Richardson earned his bachelor’s degree in government from Dartmouth in 2007 with a concentration in political theory. During his playing career, Richardson earned All-Ivy honors as a sophomore in 2004, with the team naming him the most valuable player. He started all 18 games as a junior, including scoring the game-winning goal vs. Drake and Yale. Before a season-ending injury as a senior, Richardson started each of the 10 games to open the year, with Dartmouth owning four shutouts in that span.
