DES MOINES, Iowa - Drake University men's basketball head coach hired Marty Richter as an assistant coach to complete his coaching staff, DeVries announced Tuesday, May 2.
Richter, a native of Waterloo, Iowa, and Simpson College graduate joins the Drake staff after two extremely successful seasons as the head coach at Florida SouthWestern State College.
"We are excited to finalize our coaching staff with the addition of Marty Richter," DeVries said. "He has a vast background of coaching experience, including most recently being the head coach at Florida Southwestern. He brings tremendous energy and passion on a daily basis which will continue to help us grow the excitement around the Drake men's basketball program."
At Florida SouthWestern State College, he amassed a record of 56-10 in two seasons. Last season, the Buccaneers went 30-3, were ranked as high as No. 2 in the NJCAA poll and were one win away from advancing to the final four of the national tournament. Richter was named the Suncoast Conference Coach of the Year for the stellar season. Seven student-athletes from that team have already signed with NCAA Division I programs including Tremell and Anthony Murphy and D.J. Wilkins, who signed with Drake earlier this week. Tremell Murphy was coached to conference player of the year and All-America honors by Richter. Tremell and Anthony Murphy were two of eight Bucs to earn all-conference honors.
Before taking the head coaching position at FSW, Richter was an assistant for four seasons (2011-15) at Florida Gulf Coast. During that span, FGCU won more than 80 games with three of postseason appearances including a 2013 run to the Sweet Sixteen. The Eagles were the first No. 15 seed in tournament history to advance to the Sweet Sixteen, doing so with wins over Georgetown and San Diego State to claim a school record 26 wins.
Richter, who brought vast coaching knowledge and awareness of the recruiting landscape to FSW, spent four seasons (2011-15) on the sidelines for Florida Gulf Coast University and before arriving at FGCU in 2011-12, Richter was an evaluator and collegiate scout for ESPN and provided ESPN with evaluations and contact information for ESPN's national recruiting database.
A 1999 graduate and three-year letterwinner at Simpson College, Richter began his coaching career as an assistant at his alma mater from 1999-2001. After a two-year stay at the University of South Dakota (2001-03) as a graduate assistant coach, Richter joined Dan Dakich's staff at Bowling Green where he was promoted to an assistant coach from 2004-07.
Richter began his first stint as an assistant coach at Florida junior college powerhouse Chipola College during the 2007-08 season. Chipola spent 11 weeks ranked No. 1 in the NJCAA national poll, finishing the year with a 35-2 record, a regional championship and a seventh-place finish at the National Tournament.
Richter then served as the video coordinator for Indiana University and interim coach Dan Dakich after his season with Chipola, joining the team for the 2008 Big Ten Championship and the NCAA Tournament. With the Hoosiers, Richter provided video edits for the postseason while helping the academic support staff.
International experience became part of Richter's detailed resume in 2008-09 when he served as an assistant coach for the Budivelnyk Basketball Club of the Ukrainian Superleague. Richter assisted with all facets of the club, extending from game preparation, on-floor coaching, scouting of opponents, recruiting of international and American players, and individual development.
Richter returned to Chipola College after the conclusion of the season in Ukraine, joining the Indians for the start of regular season play. After winning another regional championship, Chipola finished third at the National Tournament with a 34-2 overall mark. Nine different players moved on to Division I programs following the season.
Richter and his wife, Brynn have a son, Avery, and a daughter, Harper.
