Dan Richards enters his tenth season (11th year) as an assistant women's soccer coach for Cal Poly Pomona in 2025.
Richards was a key contributor to the Broncos’ historic 2024 campaign, helping lead the team to a dominant 22-1-2 record—the highest winning percentage (.920) in program history. Under his guidance, the Broncos clinched the CCAA regular-season title, captured their second-ever CCAA Tournament Championship, secured the NCAA West Region title, and of course the NCAA Division II National Title. The team also set program records for most wins (22), most goals scored (58), and most shutouts (14). Richards’ focus on player development and team performance earned him a spot on the United Soccer Coaches National Coaching Staff of the Year.
Richards helped lead the Broncos to their first ever CCAA regular season title in 2023, finishing with a 11-5-3 overall record while going 8-2-1 in conference. The Broncos had seven All-CCAA honorees, including four United Soccer Coaches All-West Region players. The team made the CCAA Tournament finals for the first time since 2001, after defeating Cal Poly Humboldt in the CCAA Tournament Semifinals by a score of 1-0.
Richards spent the first four seasons at CPP as a program associate from 2015-18 before being elevated to a full-time assistant coach ahead of the 2019 season. In his first season as a full-time member of staff, Coach Richards was part of the Broncos coaching line-up who were named the United Soccer Coaches NCAA Division II West Region Coaching Staff of the Year.
Hailing from London, England, Richards earned a bachelor's degree with honors in 2005 from the University of Wolverhampton in Sports Studies. After graduating from Wolverhampton, Richards moved to the United States and has continued to progress though the youth coaching ranks to help produce and develop elite level soccer players, including those that have represented their respective countries at the Youth National and Full National team levels.
Prior to his full-time appointment at CPP, Coach Richards also served as the Head Varsity Boys Soccer Coach and Program Director at Laguna Beach High School from 2010-2019.
Richards is an established figure in the club soccer world, having worked with nationally recognized programs at the ECNL, ECRL, GA and USSDA levels, attending some of the most prestigious tournaments and showcases in the country.
Richards holds national coaching licenses from various organizations and governing bodies including a US Soccer Federation ‘A’ License, a Premier Diploma from the United Soccer Coaches organization, a National Goalkeeping Diploma, National Youth Diplomas from Coerver Coaching, and a Director of Coaching Diploma from United Soccer Coaches. Coach Richards is also well-versed in soccer analytics and scouting, having utilized multiple platforms, software and technologies to help enhance individual player and team performance, and having worked as a consultant to help produce AI based soccer analysis solutions. Coach Richards also holds certifications from the PFSA (Professional Football Scouts Association) as well as licenses and diplomas related to opposition, performance and recruitment analysis.
