03/11/2019
The John Paul Hammerschmidt Lecture Series Welcomes Nolan Richardson on April 16
Former University of Arkansas Razorback basketball coach Nolan Richardson will speak Tuesday, April 16, at North Arkansas College in the John Paul Hammerschmidt Lecture Series. The Lecture will be open to the public free of charge and will begin at 6:30 P.M. in the L. E. “Gene” Durand Center on Northark’s Center Campus in downtown Harrison. Coach Richardson’s speech will include fond memories of his days coaching the Razorbacks tinged with inspirational wisdom of how to overcome the odds.
Richardson holds the school record of 389 games in 17 seasons at Arkansas, including back-to-back appearances in the NCAA championship game.
To recognize his contributions to the Razorbacks and his imprint on Hog history, the University of Arkansas is currently considering a resolution to name the court at Walton Arena after Richardson.
Richardson led the Razorbacks to 13 NCAA Tournament appearances and had a seven-year run from the 1989-90 season through the 1995-96 season. In that span, Richardson led the Hogs to 195 victories, the most of any coach in major college basketball. Richardson has been inducted into 13 halls of fame and has a middle school named in his honor in his home town of El Paso, Texas.
He is the only coach in history to have won a championship on every college level: Winning the 1979 National Junior College Tournament, 1981 National Invitational Tournament, and the 1994 N.C.A.A. Tournament. Richardson has served as the head coach of the Panamanian National Team and the Mexican National Team. In 2009 he was named as head coach of the Tulsa Shock in the Women’s National Basketball Association.
Having coached for over 40 years, he now aspires to coach on the N.B.A. level.
He is an avid golfer and longtime philanthropist. He combined his two loves by creating the Nolan Richardson Charity Golf Tournament, which is the fundraising arm of the Yvonne Richardson Memorial Foundation, donating over $2.5 million to various charities.
He and his wife Rose live in Fayetteville, AR on his horse ranch where he enjoys fishing and taking care of his vast array of animals.
This will be the 30th presentation in the JPH Lecture Series. Former Congressman John Paul Hammerschmidt passed away in early 2015. His son, John Arthur Hammerschmidt serves on the Lecture Committee and carries forward Mr. Hammerschmidt’s efforts to bring renowned speakers to the Harrison area at no charge to the public.
