Matt Richards was hired at Southern Maine Community College in 2003 as the Director of Athletics and Head Men’s Basketball Coach. As Director of Athletics, Richards has developed the Seawolves athletics program into one of the most competitive small college programs in New England. During his tenure, SMCC has won 40 conference championships and has made 37 United States Collegiate Athletic Association (USCAA) National Tournament appearances, grabbing regional and national recognition. Richards added Women's Soccer and Women's Volleyball to SMCC's sports offerings, expanded the Baseball and Softball seasons to fall and spring, and has overseen the renovation of the College’s athletic facilities to meet the needs of the growing program. In July of 2016, Richards was appointed Associate Dean of Students to add duties within Student Residential Life and Activities; and then was elevated to Associate Dean of Athletics and Alumni Affairs in January of 2022.

In addition to his work on campus, Richards has also been an active executive board member of the USCAA, the national organization that provides regional and national post-season and award opportunities for small colleges throughout the nation. He joined the USCAA Board of Directors in June of 2006, and since that time has served in various capacities including Vice President of Marketing, Eligibility Chair, and President of the Board of Directors. Richards has since fulfilled his term as President of the USCAA, but continues to serve on the Board of Directors and as Interim Eligibility/Compliance Coordinator. In 2009, Richards received the prestigious Commissioner's Award for his outstanding service and dedication to the USCAA and earned recognition as the Association's Athletic Director of the Year (2021) for the second time in his career. He achieved the highest level of recognition within the Association as an inductee into the USCAA Hall of Fame in June of 2022. Richards currently serves as the President of the Yankee Small College Conference (YSCC), in which SMCC is a member institution.

On the hardwood, Richards has built an extremely competitive program. He is a four-time YSCC Coach of the Year (2004, 2007, 2015, and 2022), coaching 12 student-athletes to 13 All-American selections, capturing five YSCC titles, and leading his teams to 12 USCAA National Tournament appearances including back-to-back trips to the Final Four in 2007 and 2008. Richards brought home the coveted USCAA Div. 2 National Championsihp in 2022, the first team national championship in SMCC history.

Prior to SMCC, Richards worked at the University of New England (Biddeford, Maine) within the athletics department in a variety of roles to include Intramural and Club Sports Coordinator and Baseball Coach; he also taught courses as an adjunct professor in the Sports Management degree program. 

Richards graduated from Colby Sawyer College (1995) with a B.A. in Sports Management. He went on to earn his M.A. in Sports Administration from the University of Northern Colorado (1997) where he did his graduate assistant work at the Division I level.

A native of Scarborough, he and his wife Maureen reside in South Portland with their children Ally and Emerald.

(Updated July 2023)