Bio

Matt Richards served as Head Men's Basketball Coach at Southern Maine Community College for 23 seasons, establishing the most successful coaching tenure in program history. During his career, he amassed more than 400 victories to become the winningest coach in SMCC Athletics history.

Richards' teams qualified for 22 consecutive Yankee Small College Conference (YSCC) playoff berths, captured six YSCC Championships, and earned more than a dozen United States Collegiate Athletic Association (USCAA) National Tournament appearances, including back-to-back Final Four appearances in 2007 and 2008 and the College's first-ever team National Championship in 2022.

The four-time YSCC Coach of the Year (2004, 2007, 2015, 2022) achieved a top ranking in the national coaches' poll in 2008 and again in 2015 and produced 33 All-Conference selections (three named Player of the Year) and 15 All-American selections (10 named First Team). Throughout his tenure, Richards established a culture centered on accountability, family, and player development that became a hallmark of Seawolves Basketball.

Following their time at SMCC, many alumni found success competing at NCAA institutions and professionally overseas. During his coaching tenure, five former players and one team were inducted into the SMCC Athletics Hall of Fame.

Richards earned a respected reputation throughout the coaching ranks as a regular guest speaker at summer camps and coaching clinics across New England. He also served on the USCAA Men's Basketball Coaches Poll.

Prior to arriving at SMCC, Richards worked at the University of New England and coached at Biddeford High School. Before that, he served as head basketball coach at South Portland High School and Kearsarge Regional High School.

Richards played four seasons for the Colby-Sawyer College men's basketball program from 1991-94. While attending Scarborough High School, he excelled as the starting point guard under coach Dan Costigan. During his senior season, Scarborough qualified for the Western Maine Tournament, ending a five-year postseason drought.

Richards earned a Bachelor of Science in Sports Management from Colby-Sawyer College in 1995 and a master's degree in Sports Administration from the University of Northern Colorado in 1997.

Richards currently serves as Chief of Institutional Advancement and Engagement, helping strengthen relationships with students, alumni, and community partners while advancing philanthropic support for the College.

A native of Scarborough, Richards resides in South Portland with his wife, Maureen, and their two children, Ally and Emerald.

 (Updated Jul 2026)