Following the departure of Tomekia Reed for Charlotte, the Jackson State women’s basketball program has announced Margaret Richards as its new head coach.
Richards, going into her 20th season as a college coach, spent last season on staff at Mercer. Before that, she served as head coach at fellow Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) school Alabama A&M for eight seasons, totaling a 97-125 overall record and six conference tournament appearances.
“I want to thank President Marcus Thompson and Vice President/AD Ashley Robinson for giving me this amazing opportunity to serve as the head women’s basketball coach at Jackson State University,” Richards said, per a release from the school.
Richards has big shoes to fill as Reed led the Lady Tigers to five consecutive SWAC regular season titles and three SWAC tournament titles, including in 2024 where they earned a bid to the NCAA Tournament before falling at the hands of eventual Final Four team UConn.
“When you look at the landscape of our sports in the Southwestern Athletic Conference, the standard over the last five years has been Jackson State,” Richards continued. “I am humbled and honored to be given this opportunity to serve the young women of our program and the Jackson State community. I understand the expectations and can’t wait to get to work.”
Richards, who also has coaching stops as an assistant at North Texas, Weber State, Western Kentucky, and Clemson, will be introduced during a press conference at the Lee Williams AAC on the campus of Jackson State on Monday, May 6 at 11 a.m.
