After nearly a decade away from Columbus, Dave Richardson is returning to Ohio State.
Jake Diebler has added Richardson as the Buckeyes' strength and conditioning coach, the same position Richardson previously held from 2005-17, the Ohio State coach announced Monday.
Richardsons getting us ready in the weight room
— Ohio State Hoops (@OhioStateHoops) June 1, 2026
Buckeye Nation, welcome back Dave Richardson as our Strength and Conditioning Coach #GoBucks | #FightToTheEnd pic.twitter.com/0zJUGSruEX
Richardson returns to Columbus after spending the last eight years as the strength and conditioning coach for Arkansas men's basketball, a position he held under Mike Anderson (2018-19), Eric Musselman (2019-24) and John Calipari (2024-26). He also served as strength and conditioning coach for the Razorbacks' women's tennis team since 2018, along with the women's basketball team since 2019.
| YEAR | SCHOOL | TITLE |
|---|---|---|
| 1986-90 | LOUISIANA MONROE | STUDENT ASSISTANT |
| 1990-95 | NICHOLLS STATE | HEAD S&C COACH |
| 1991 | CENTRAL AMERICA'S DAVIS CUP TENNIS TEAM | HEAD S&C COACH |
| 1995-2001 | LOUISIANA MONROE | HEAD S&C COACH |
| 2001-05 | MIAMI (FLORIDA) | ASSISTANT S&C COACH |
| 2005-18 | OHIO STATE | HEAD S&C COACH |
| 2018-26 | ARKANSAS | HEAD S&C COACH |
While in Fayetteville, Richardson earned his Registered Strength and Conditioning Coach Emeritus (RSCC*E) designation by the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA) in June 2020.
“The RSCC Program represents the highest standards of experience and education for strength and conditioning coaches in the industry,” NSCA’s Coaching Program Manager Eric McMahon said in a statement. “We are proud to recognize Coach Richardson with our highest coaching designation for his continued service and dedication to the strength and conditioning profession.”
The 63-year-old has been a strength and conditioning coach since 1990 after serving five years in the Army, where he was also a member of the All-Army powerlifting team. He's been a strength and conditioning coach at five different universities over the last three-plus decades: Nicholls State (1990-95), Northeast Louisiana (1995-2001), Miami (Florida) (2001-05), Ohio State (2005-18) and Arkansas (2018-26).
Thad Matta initially hired Richardson as Ohio State’s strength and conditioning coach in 2005, following Matta's first season at OSU. It was a position he held for 12 seasons before Matta was fired in 2017. Chris Holtmann, who took over for Matta, didn't retain Richardson, who became the strength and conditioning coach for Ohio State's men's lacrosse before making the move to Arkansas in 2018.
Richardson has been part of plenty of successful men's basketball teams over the last two decades. Most recently, Arkansas has advanced to the Sweet 16 in five of the last six years, after previously doing so only once since 1996.
During his 12 seasons on Matta's staff, Richardson helped the Buckeyes to 11 postseason appearances, including five Sweet 16 berths, two Final Fours, a national runner-up finish in 2007 and an NIT championship in 2008. He coached nine players who were selected in the NBA draft and 21 who went on to play professionally.
Throughout that 12-year stint, Richardson proved to be more than just a strength and conditioning coach for the Buckeyes, as former Ohio State star Deshaun Thomas explained that he provided OSU players with much more than just Richardson's title suggests.
"Coach Richardson was far more than a strength and conditioning coach to us at Ohio State," Thomas told Eleven Warriors. "He consistently challenged us mentally and inspired us to perform at our highest level. He emphasized the values of toughness, discipline, and personal growth, helping shape us not only into better athletes but into responsible and resilient men.
"What distinguished Coach Richardson most was his emphasis on mental fortitude. He taught us how to persevere through adversity, how to continue pushing ourselves when fatigued, and how to compete with pride and commitment for the name on the front of our jerseys," he continued. "He made it clear that mental toughness was every bit as important as physical strength.
"Many of the lessons he taught me remained with me throughout my professional career overseas. In particular, during difficult fourth-quarter situations when exhaustion sets in and the outcome of the game is uncertain, mental and physical preparedness are what elevate performance to another level. Coach Richardson helped prepare us for those defining moments, and that is something I will always respect and deeply appreciate about him."
Richardson and Diebler were previously on the same coaching staff at Ohio State from 2013-16, when the current Buckeyes' head coach was Matta's video coordinator while Dave Dickerson was an assistant. Now, the three are reunited in Columbus.
OSU parted ways with Quadrian Banks in April, who had led the strength and conditioning program for Ohio State men’s basketball since 2017.
Richardson is one of three new members of Ohio State’s staff for the 2026-27 season. Diebler also hired Mike Wells as an assistant coach and former Ohio State star William Buford as a program assistant. Jamall Walker was promoted to associate head coach to replace Joel Justus, who left for Vanderbilt.
The coaching staff in Columbus has been finalized for the 2026-2027 season#GoBucks | #FightToTheEnd pic.twitter.com/hIS9yu9osJ
— Ohio State Hoops (@OhioStateHoops) June 1, 2026
