CCNY Names Dawn Richardson Next Head Coach

The City College of New York Athletic Department has chosen the individual who will serve as the next Head Coach of the women’s volleyball program, and that person is none other than Dawn Richardson, who comes to the institution with terrific knowledge of the game of volleyball having enjoyed great success as a student-athlete while also gaining valuable experience in the coaching ranks as well.

As a student-athlete, Richardson played two years at American International College before transferring to Queens College. At both of those schools, she was a full-scholarship athlete. During her sophomore season at American International College, she was voted to the All-Tournament team for her stellar efforts during the NE 10 Tourney.  She transferred to Queens College and studied there for her junior and senior years. During both of those years, she was named to the NCAA Division II All-Academic Team. Prior to her senior season at Queens, she was named the team’s captain, and she led by example by being named an all-conference (East Coast Conference) player while also being named a Division II honorable mention All-American player.

Richardson’s playing experience wasn’t just limited to the courts, though, as she also played semi-pro beach volleyball, doing so in Long Beach for three months, and South Carolina for four months.  Her coaching experience dates back to her time coaching girls aged 11-18 at the World Training Center in Huguenot, NY during summers while she was a college student. In addition, she spent time as a coach for the Connecticut Huskies and the New York Juniors.

 City College of New York Director of Athletics believes Richardson will be a tremendous addition to CCNY’s Athletics staff.

“Dawn comes to the City College of New York with a tremendous passion for the game of volleyball,” Meadow said. “She is an individual who has an extensive resume as it pertains to playing the game, and she has also had the opportunity to coach players of many different age groups. Dawn is someone who wants to build a program that consists of student-athletes who want to succeed both in the classroom and on the court, and we’re excited about the future of our program under her guidance.”

Richardson likes to preach an aggressive style. She anticipates her student-athletes will bring a competitive mindset to the court, and wants her players to maintain a high level of intensity during matches.  She preached these sentiments when asked about how she prefers her teams to approach matches.

“Obviously, volleyball is a sport where success depends upon the chemistry that you develop with your teammates, but emotion plays a big role in how a team fares on the court as well,” Richardson said. “I want my teams to be having fun while also giving their all every minute of every match. I’m honored to be here at City College, and I’m very eager to get started.”