COM coach helps local student make college team

Home for the summer from Stephen F. Austin State University, Campbell, 19, discovered
that the best place for a penny-pinching college student to shoot hoops was the COM
Gym. Coming for an inexpensive gym membership, the former Santa Fe High School basketball
player didn’t expect to find impromptu coaching as well.
While she shot hoops with her sister one day, COM employee Michael Richardson, former
University of Texas basketball player, spied her. His coaching instincts kicked in
as he suggested, “Put more arc on your shot.”
Campbell adjusted her technique and found it improved her shot’s accuracy and increased
the distance from which she could make a shot. She returned often over the next several
weeks, and as Richardson had time and on lunch breaks he stopped by to offer suggestions
– move around before you take the shot instead of standing still to simulate a game’s
frenetic pace, try the play again.
“Whenever I would miss, I’d get frustrated,” Campbell said. “(Richardson would) say,
‘That’s OK. Just say, “I’m going to make the next shot.”’ I think that helped me the
most.”
As her game improved, Campbell made the three-hour trip to Nacogdoches to test her
skills in tryouts for the women’s basketball team at Stephen F. Austin State. After
days of observation and practice with the team, she scored a spot as point guard.
“I was nervous, but with all the practice with Coach Mike I felt confident,” Campbell
said. “He improved my game 100 percent over high school.”
While playing professionally overseas in 1994, Richardson began coaching when friends
working with youth teams requested he fill in for them. After returning to Texas,
he began coaching young players in the Houston area in 1995. His first player blossomed
under his direction, and his six friends clamored for coaching. He’s since guided
players who play professional basketball overseas and those on college, high school,
junior high and elementary teams. He recently taught a weeklong basketball camp at
COM for 8 to 13-year-olds.
“I enjoy taking what I’ve learned and passing it on. It’s a good feeling, especially
when they love basketball like I do,” said Richardson.
Campbell was an easy student to coach, he said. “She’s a very hard worker and focused.
She had potential and desire, and when you have those things, it’s a good combination.”
Campbell is excited to head off to college and add basketball practice to her schedule
already filled with softball and academics – she’s pursuing a career as a speech pathologist.
“I feel extremely blessed to have chance to work with Coach Mike,” said Campbell.
“I feel like God placed him in my life. I’m always going to be grateful.”