View source for Mark Richt

{{Short description|American football player and coach (born 1960)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2024}}
{{Infobox college coach
| name = Mark Richt
| image = Mark Richt Miami 2018.png
| caption = Richt in 2018
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1960|2|18}}
| birth_place = [[Omaha, Nebraska]], U.S.
| alma_mater = 
| player_years1 = 1979–1982
| player_team1 = [[Miami Hurricanes football|Miami (FL)]]
| player_positions = [[Quarterback]]
| coach_years1 = 1985–1988
| coach_team1 = [[Florida State Seminoles football|Florida State]] ([[Graduate assistant|GA]])
| coach_years2 = 1989
| coach_team2 = [[East Carolina Pirates football|East Carolina]] ([[Offensive coordinator|OC]])
| coach_years3 = 1990–1993
| coach_team3 = Florida State (QB)
| coach_years4 = 1994–2000
| coach_team4 = Florida State (OC/QB)
| coach_years5 = 2001–2015
| coach_team5 = [[Georgia Bulldogs football|Georgia]]
| coach_years6 = 2016–2018
| coach_team6 = [[Miami Hurricanes football|Miami (FL)]]
| overall_record = 171–64
| bowl_record = 10–7
| tournament_record = 
| championships = 2 [[List of SEC conference champions#Football|SEC]] (2002, 2005)<br>5 [[List of SEC conference champions#Divisional champions|SEC Eastern Division]] (2002–2003, 2005, 2011–2012)<br>1 [[ACC Coastal Division]] (2017)

| awards = 2× [[Southeastern Conference football individual awards#Coach of the Year|SEC Coach of the Year]] (2002, 2005)<br>[[Atlantic Coast Conference football individual awards#Coach of the Year|ACC Coach of the Year]] (2017)<br>[[Walter Camp Coach of the Year Award]] (2017)
| coaching_records = 
| CFBHOF_year = 2023
| CFBHOF_id = 2523
}}
'''Mark Allan Richt''' (born February 18, 1960) is an American former [[college football]] coach, player, and current television analyst. He was the head football coach at the [[University of Georgia]] for 15 years and at the [[University of Miami]], his alma mater, for three. His teams won two [[Southeastern Conference]] (SEC) championships, five SEC division titles, and one [[Atlantic Coast Conference]] (ACC) division title. He was a two-time [[Southeastern Conference football individual awards#Coach of the Year|SEC Coach of the Year]] (2002, 2005), the 2017 [[Atlantic Coast Conference football individual awards#Coach of the Year|ACC Coach of the Year]], and the winner of the national 2017 [[Walter Camp Coach of the Year Award]]. On January 10, 2023, he was inducted into [[College Football Hall of Fame]] as part of the 2023 class.<ref>{{Cite web |date=January 9, 2023 |title=Former UGA coach Mark Richt elected to College Football Hall of Fame |url=https://www.fox5atlanta.com/sports/former-uga-coach-mark-richt-elected-to-college-football-hall-of-fame |access-date=January 11, 2023 |website=FOX 5 Atlanta |language=en-US}}</ref>

Richt played [[college football]] as a [[quarterback]] at Miami. As an assistant coach, he spent 14 years at [[Florida State University]], where he served as [[offensive coordinator]] and quarterbacks coach under [[Bobby Bowden]], and a year as offensive coordinator at [[East Carolina University]].<ref name="Richt to Step Down">{{Cite web |date=November 29, 2015 |title=UGA Coach Mark Richt to Step Down |url=http://www.georgiadogs.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/112915aaa.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151201144707/http://www.georgiadogs.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/112915aaa.html |archive-date=December 1, 2015 |access-date=November 29, 2015 |website=UGA Sports}}</ref>

==Early years and playing career==
Richt was raised in a [[blue collar|blue-collar]] family, the second oldest of five children. He was born in [[Omaha, Nebraska]] to Lou and Helen Richt.<ref name="p217">{{cite web | last=Weiszer | first=Marc | title=CornDawgs: Richt's family balances love for Georgia, Nebraska | website=Online Athens | date=2012-12-19 | url=https://www.onlineathens.com/story/sports/high-school/football/2012/12/19/corndawgs-richts-family-balances-love-georgia-nebraska/15587856007/ | access-date=2024-10-22}}</ref> Lou worked as a [[Tool and die maker|tool-and-die maker]] for Western Electric. In 1967, the Richt family moved to [[Boulder, Colorado]] when Lou got a new job. In 1973, Lou was transferred to South Florida where Mark would graduate from high school.

Richt became a star athlete at [[Boca Raton High School|Boca Raton High]] and was called "All Turnpike" because of the various awards he received around the state of Florida. As a [[high school football|high school]] quarterback, he was recruited by the University of Miami, [[Florida State University]], and [[Brown University]]. He chose to attend the University of Miami, an hour south from his family.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last=Kaufman |first=Michelle |date=December 4, 2015 |title=Tragedy played big role in evolution of UM coach Mark Richt |url=https://www.miamiherald.com/sports/college/acc/university-of-miami/article48094070.html |website=Miami Herald}}</ref>

===College and professional career===
Richt played at the [[University of Miami]] from 1978 to 1982. Under coach [[Howard Schnellenberger]], Richt was backup to future [[Pro Football Hall of Fame]] quarterback [[Jim Kelly]]. In later years at Miami, he played behind [[Bernie Kosar]] and [[Heisman Trophy]] winner [[Vinny Testaverde]]. He was mentored by quarterbacks coach [[Earl Morrall]]. Despite limited playing time, Richt still amassed nearly 1,500 passing yards.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Mark Richt Bio |url=http://www.hurricanesports.com/ViewArticle.dbml?ATCLID=210611507 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160916124236/http://www.hurricanesports.com/ViewArticle.dbml?ATCLID=210611507 |archive-date=September 16, 2016 |access-date=September 4, 2016}}</ref> The [[1981 Miami Hurricanes football team|1981 Miami Hurricanes team]] finished 9–2, ranked 8th in the country, while the [[1980 Miami Hurricanes football team|1980 team]] finished 9–3, ranked 18th in the country. Richt received interest from multiple NFL teams and briefly spent time with the Denver Broncos behind [[John Elway]].<ref name=":1" />

==Assistant coaching career==
===Florida State (1985–1988)===
Richt began his coaching career after being offered a job by [[Bobby Bowden]] as a graduate assistant for the [[Florida State Seminoles football|Florida State Seminoles]]. Bowden had recruited Richt as a high school quarterback.<ref name="miamiherald2">{{Cite web |title=Tragedy played big role in evolution of UM coach Mark Richt |website=[[Miami Herald]] |url=http://www.miamiherald.com/sports/college/acc/university-of-miami/article48094070.html |access-date=September 3, 2016}}</ref>

===East Carolina (1989)===
At the age of 29, Richt was hired as the [[offensive coordinator]] at [[East Carolina University]]. Richt was hired by [[Bill Lewis (American football coach)|Bill Lewis]], who had previously been defensive coordinator at Georgia. Lewis hired Richt from Florida State in part to help with recruiting.<ref>{{Cite web |date=December 18, 1988 |title=East Carolina Coaching Change Has Ripple Effect On Florida Football |url=https://www.orlandosentinel.com/1988/12/18/east-carolina-coaching-change-has-ripple-effect-on-florida-football/ |access-date=September 3, 2016 |website=Orlando Sentinel}}</ref>

===Florida State (1990–2000)===
After one year at East Carolina, Bowden brought Richt back to Florida State to serve as the Seminoles' quarterbacks coach. Richt was promoted to offensive coordinator in 1994 upon the departure of [[Brad Scott (American football)|Brad Scott]]. Under Richt, Florida State had one of college football's most explosive offenses. In his seven years as offensive coordinator, the Seminoles ranked in the nation's top five scoring offenses for five seasons, they were top twelve in total offense for five seasons, and top twelve in passing offense for five seasons. Richt coached two [[Heisman Trophy]] winning quarterbacks: [[Charlie Ward]] and [[Chris Weinke]]. Richt coached a total of six FSU quarterbacks to the NFL, including Ward, Weinke, [[Brad Johnson (American football)|Brad Johnson]] ([[Tampa Bay Buccaneers]]), [[Danny Kanell]] ([[New York Giants]]), [[Danny McManus]] ([[Kansas City Chiefs]]) and [[Peter Tom Willis]] ([[Chicago Bears]]). During this period, FSU won seven consecutive ACC titles and two [[NCAA Division I-A national football championship|national championships]] (1993 and 1999).<ref>http://www.georgiadogs.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=8800&ATCLID=307706{{dead link|date=September 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>

==Head coaching career==
===Georgia (2001–2015)===
[[File:Mark Richt-May-21-08-CoachesTour2008.jpg|thumb|upright|Richt in 2008]]
{{Main|History of Georgia Bulldogs football#Mark Richt era|l1 = Georgia Bulldogs football under Mark Richt}}
Richt was hired as head coach of the [[Georgia Bulldogs football|Georgia Bulldogs]] before the 2001 season, replacing [[Jim Donnan]]. Richt's teams won two [[Southeastern Conference]] (SEC) championships (2002 and 2005), six SEC Eastern Division titles (2002, 2003, 2005, 2007, 2011 and 2012), and nine [[bowl game]]s. The 2002 season marked Georgia's first conference championship since 1982, and Georgia's first-ever outright SEC East Division championship and [[SEC Championship Game]] appearance since the league began divisional play and the championship game in 1992.

Richt's teams represented the SEC in three [[Bowl Championship Series]] bowl games (all in the [[Sugar Bowl]]), with a record of 2–1, and finished in the top ten of the final AP Poll seven times (2002–2005, 2007, 2012, 2014). Additionally, his 2008 team finished in the top ten of the coaches' poll but not the AP Poll.<ref>{{Cite web |title=2008 Final Football Polls - College Poll Archive - Historical College Football and Basketball Polls and Rankings |url=http://collegepollarchive.com/football/ap/seasons.cfm?seasonid=2008#.WhRrJ1WnGos |access-date=November 21, 2017 |website=College Poll Archive}}</ref>

Richt finished his career at Georgia with 145 wins and 51 losses, making him the second-winningest coach in Georgia history (after [[Vince Dooley]]'s 201). He left with the highest [[winning percentage]] of any coach with more than 29 games at the school.<ref name=":0" />

====2015 season and dismissal====
The [[2015 Georgia Bulldogs football team]] were the favorites to win the SEC Eastern Division. The Bulldogs started the season 4–0 with SEC wins over [[2015 Vanderbilt Commodores football team|Vanderbilt]] by a score of 31–14 and [[2015 South Carolina Gamecocks football team|South Carolina]] by a score of 52–20. On October 3, eventual national champion [[2015 Alabama Crimson Tide football team|Alabama]] came to Athens and defeated the Bulldogs by a score of 38–10. Georgia then had two additional conference losses to [[2015 Florida Gators football team|Florida]] and [[2015 Tennessee Volunteers football team|Tennessee]]. Georgia finished the regular season 9–3 after a four-game winning streak, including road wins over [[2015 Auburn Tigers football team|Auburn]] by a score of 20–13 and [[2015 Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets football team|Georgia Tech]] by a score of 13–7.

The day after the Georgia Tech game, Richt was dismissed after 15 seasons as head coach.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Richt, Georgia parting ways after 15 seasons |url=https://www.espn.com/espn/story/_/id/14249507/mark-richt-won-lot-games-georgia-just-not-right-ones |access-date=November 29, 2015 |website=ESPN.com|date=November 29, 2015 }}</ref>

===Miami (2015–2018)===
[[File:Mark Richt University of Miami.jpg|thumb|upright|Richt at Miami.]]
After leaving Georgia, Richt was named the head coach of the [[Miami Hurricanes football|Hurricanes]] of the [[University of Miami]], his [[alma mater]]. Richt made the announcement on December 4, 2015.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Miami makes hiring of Mark Richt official |url=https://www.espn.com/college-football/story/_/id/14287857/miami-hurricanes-introduce-mark-richt-new-coach |access-date=December 4, 2015 |website=ESPN|date=December 4, 2015 }}</ref> Instead of saying he was leaving his home in Georgia, he said he was coming home: "My wife and I can tell you this: This is our home. We love it."<ref>{{Cite web |title=New football coach Mark Richt is happy to be home at the University of Miami |website=[[Miami Herald]] |url=http://www.miamiherald.com/sports/college/acc/university-of-miami/article47974460.html |access-date=September 3, 2016}}</ref> "I have no intention of doing anything but finishing my coaching career at Miami."<ref>{{Cite web |last=Labar |first=Sean |title=Catching up with Miami's Mark Richt – HERO Sports |url=http://herosports.com/news/ncaa-d1-mens-football/catching-up-with-miamis-mark-richt |access-date=September 3, 2016 |website=herosports.com}}</ref> Richt graduated from high school in [[Palm Beach County]], an hour north of campus.

Fans embraced Richt's arrival in strong numbers. Before the opener of his first season, the Hurricanes surpassed 40,000 season ticket sales, the highest number since they started playing at [[Hard Rock Stadium]] in 2008.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Miami Surpasses 40,000 Season Tickets |url=https://247sports.com/college/miami/article/miami-surpasses-40000-season-tickets-47135566/ |access-date=September 3, 2016}}</ref> The Hurricane Club (UM Athletics's [[booster club]]) also sprung to a record level of members and donations.<ref name="miamiherald3">{{Cite web |title=After rejuvenating UM football faithful, Mark Richt aims to bring back wins |website=[[Miami Herald]] |url=http://www.miamiherald.com/sports/college/acc/university-of-miami/article99102687.html |access-date=September 3, 2016}}</ref>

[[Howard Schnellenberger]] called Richt's signing "a marriage made in heaven."<ref name="miamiherald3" /> Miami Heisman alumnus [[Vinny Testaverde]] noted "I know he's going to be a great role model for my boy, for our kids, he's going to be a great person and a great teacher...And that's what these kids need."<ref name="usnews1">{{Cite web |title='We're going to get to work:' Former Miami QB Mark Richt takes over the 'Canes |url=https://www.usnews.com/news/sports/articles/2015/12/04/miami-introduces-mark-richt-as-its-new-football-coach |access-date=September 3, 2016}}</ref> "I was shocked that Georgia let him go. But their loss is Miami's gain."<ref name="miamiherald2" /> Testaverde's son Vincent was a backup quarterback on the team.

Richt served as the head coach of the Miami Hurricanes for the 2016 to 2018 seasons and called all offensive plays. He worked closely with quarterbacks at practice, alongside his oldest son and quarterbacks coach, [[Jon Richt]]. In his second year as head coach, he helped Miami win its first ACC Coastal title. Richt was named ACC Coach of the Year for this achievement.<ref>{{Cite web |date=November 28, 2017 |title=Miami's Richt Voted ACC Football Coach of the Year |url=http://theacc.com/news/2017/11/28/miamis-richt-voted-acc-football-coach-of-the-year.aspx |access-date=November 28, 2017 |website=theacc.com |publisher=The Atlantic Coast Conference}}</ref>

====Off the field====
====Fundraising success====
Shortly after joining Miami, Richt began spearheading a campaign to raise money for a new indoor practice facility. In May 2016, he told University of Miami boosters in Chicago he was donating $1 million of his own money towards the campaign,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Mark Richt donating $1 million toward Hurricanes indoor practice facility {{!}} Canes Watch |url=http://caneswatch.blog.palmbeachpost.com/2016/05/25/mark-richt-donating-1-million-toward-hurricanes-indoor-practice-facility/ |access-date=September 2, 2016}}</ref> "I'm not just giving lip service to (making Miami great), that I truly believe it and I'm willing to invest my life in a lot of ways and our resources, too."<ref name="autogenerated1">{{Cite web |title=Hurricanes to unveil plans for new $30M facility |date=September 22, 2016 |url=https://www.espn.com/college-football/story/_/id/17610685/miami-unveil-plans-30-million-indoor-football-facility-friday |access-date=September 22, 2016}}</ref>

Four months later, athletic director Blake James announced the new $34 million practice facility would be slated to open in 2018.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Miami Hurricanes football set to reveal indoor practice facility details {{!}} Canes Watch |url=http://caneswatch.blog.palmbeachpost.com/2016/09/11/miami-hurricanes-football-set-to-reveal-indoor-practice-facility-details/ |access-date=September 20, 2016}}</ref> The practice facility includes an 80,000 square-foot indoor practice field as well as a 20,000 square-foot football operations center. The operations center will house coaches' offices on a mezzanine level, team meeting rooms, position meeting rooms and a recruiting suite, and have a direct connection to the Hurricanes weight room and locker room.<ref name="autogenerated1" />

Upon the facility opening, Richt told ESPN "I didn't come here just because it was my alma mater. I came here because you can win. If you do things right and get the support you need, you can win. It's been proven. The players have always been here. You just have to make sure you get the right ones, and a lot of the other things they used to ding us on, our facilities and things like that, they're not going to be able to do that anymore with this brand-new building and the improvements to [[Hard Rock Stadium]]."<ref name="espn.com">{{Cite news |title=Mark Richt on his way to restoring Miami to its former glory |work=ESPN.com |url=https://africa.espn.com/blog/acc/post/_/id/100674/mark-richt-on-his-way-to-restoring-miami-to-its-former-glory |access-date=March 22, 2018}}</ref>

====Community relations====
Each Thursday during football season, Richt visited with local youth football teams. He has stated that he wanted to visit the teams at all the parks in Miami-Dade, Broward, and Palm Beach County.<ref>{{Cite web |title=What does Mark Richt say when he speaks to young football players? {{!}} Canes Watch |url=http://caneswatch.blog.palmbeachpost.com/2016/07/26/what-does-mark-richt-say-when-he-speaks-to-young-football-players/ |access-date=September 2, 2016}}</ref> Richt also developed a partnership with the [[American Youth Football League]] to instruct youth coaches and players via regional clinics. The partnership further provided AYFL's coaches with a customized concussion protocol (in collaboration with UHealth Sports Medicine) that assists coaches with overall safety.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Miami Hurricanes coach Mark Richt spreading good will to Broward youth football {{!}} Eye on the U |url=http://miamiherald.typepad.com/umiami/2016/07/miami-hurricanes-coach-mark-richt-spreading-his-good-will-to-broward-county-youth-football.html |access-date=September 3, 2016}}</ref>

Tolbert Bain, a starter on the [[1987 Miami Hurricanes football team|national champion 1987 team]] worked regularly with South Florida Youth leagues and helped Richt to develop the outreach. Richt told ESPN, "I'd do this either way, but in my view, it's also building for UM's future. I plan to finish my coaching career at Miami."<ref>{{Cite web |title=Can Mark Richt make Miami cool again? |date=October 5, 2016 |url=https://www.espn.com/college-football/story/_/id/17719237/mark-richt-miami-hurricanes-rebuild-begins-community-outreach |access-date=October 5, 2016}}</ref>

In Spring 2017, the team led all Division I FBS Football teams with the most community service hours.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Miami Herald |url=https://account.miamiherald.com/static/paywall/stop?resume=170005977 |access-date=May 17, 2018 |website=account.miamiherald.com}} {{subscription required|s}}</ref>

===="U" Network for University of Miami Football Alumni====
In July 2016, Richt and his wife Katharyn announced that they will be launching 'The U Network'.<ref name="palmbeachpost1">{{Cite web |title='U Network': Mark Richt to establish support system for Hurricanes players {{!}} Canes Watch |url=http://caneswatch.blog.palmbeachpost.com/2016/07/27/u-network-mark-richt-to-establish-support-system-for-hurricanes-players/ |access-date=September 3, 2016}}</ref> "The U Network is going to be designed to help guys find work when their playing days are over whether it's right after college or after their pro days. My wife is going to be the person kind of facilitating everything—all of the paperwork and all of the things it will take to connect people with events and connecting players with employers. It's also going to be about reunion and connection, but the main goal is finding work for these guys and I'm talking about the guys who truly want work. We're not just going to give somebody something. They've got to do their part, but sometimes all they need is a little bit of help of guidance, connection, and networking."<ref name="palmbeachpost1" />

"(Coach) Richt is asking players to commit three, four or five years, the most important years of their lives to him and this program," said Don Bailey Jr., Richt's former teammate. "In turn, he's committing to them to make sure their professional life is forever secure after football. I think it's the ultimate payback."<ref>{{Cite news |date=August 7, 2017 |title=Miami football: Mark Richt wants to help former Hurricanes excel with his U Network |language=en |work=NCAA.com |url=https://www.ncaa.com/news/football/article/2017-08-07/miami-football-mark-richt-wants-help-former-hurricanes-excel-his-u |url-status=dead |access-date=August 23, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170823210908/http://www.ncaa.com/news/football/article/2017-08-07/miami-football-mark-richt-wants-help-former-hurricanes-excel-his-u |archive-date=August 23, 2017}}</ref>

====High school recruiting====
Despite joining the program with less than eight weeks before signing day, ESPN praised Richt for managing to recruit the 18th best class in the country. During this period, Richt was limited to three weeks of NCAA-allotted face time with recruits.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Writer |first=Matt Porter – Palm Beach Post Staff |title=Signing Day 2016: Mark Richt's first Miami class a success |url=http://www.mypalmbeachpost.com/news/sports/college-football/familiar-places-palm-beach-county-family-names-lif/nqJTR/ |access-date=September 2, 2016}}</ref> Within two years, Richt had assembled the #2 recruiting class in the nation<ref>{{Cite news |title=UM's recruiting class continues to raise eyebrows; Richt addresses issues |language=en |work=miamiherald |url=http://www.miamiherald.com/sports/spt-columns-blogs/barry-jackson/article174252201.html |access-date=September 20, 2017}}</ref> and had more committed players (18) than any FBS program before the early signing day period.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Miami's Mark Richt cautiously optimistic about signing day change |work=palmbeachpost |url=http://www.palmbeachpost.com/sports/college-football/miami-mark-richt-cautiously-optimistic-about-signing-day-change/qPIW423DSg1VtXUdJb8TBK/ |access-date=December 12, 2017}}</ref>

Richt strongly opposes oversigning, a practice popular in the [[Southeastern Conference]] (SEC) that often results in older or hurt players losing their football scholarships. He believes that when a team offers a scholarship, it is a four-year commitment from the university. University of Miami athletes receive lifetime scholarships, allowing players who elect to leave before their graduation to return and complete their diploma.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Munzenrieder |first=Kyle |date=August 29, 2014 |title=University of Miami Quietly Helped Pioneer Lifetime Scholarships for Student Athletes |work=Miami New Times |url=http://www.miaminewtimes.com/news/university-of-miami-quietly-helped-pioneer-lifetime-scholarships-for-student-athletes-6557807 |access-date=December 12, 2017}}</ref>

In 2018, Richt told ESPN that due to the nature of trust in recruiting, he feels that it is unethical to pursue other jobs since the head coach is offering a long-term commitment to his players: "I never once have tried to leverage another job for more money. I don't think that's right. The day we took the job, my mentality has always been, 'If you're the head coach, too many lives depend on you.' If I just say on a whim, 'You know, I think I'd rather go here,' well, all these recruits you said something to, all these coaches you said something to, what about them? Every time you hire a coach, you're taking the coach, his wife and his kids on an adventure. They're trusting you and believing in you enough to become a staff member. I don't want to just walk into a room and say, 'Hey, guys, thanks for helping me get to where I really want to be.' It's the same thing with these kids. They've had enough disappointment, enough men leave their lives. You're trying to build trust, and then you bolt on them because of money or because of whatever? I've just never been able to get past that part of it."<ref name="espn.com" />

=====Paradise Camp=====
Richt hosted "Paradise Camp", a summer football camp at UM for high school players. Prospects with offers and commitments were encouraged to attend. The camp was branded to highlight the benefits of playing and living in Miami's "paradise". The camp was open to individuals entering grades 9th -12th, prep students, junior college students, & 4 year college transfers.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Welcome to Mark Right football camp |url=https://camps.jumpforward.com/markrichtfootballcamp/CampDetail/Index/5199 |access-date=September 3, 2016}}</ref> Miami charged the absolute allowable minimum for its on-campus camps.<ref>{{Cite news |date=July 19, 2017 |title=Rivals.com - How Mark Richt is changing Miami's recruiting perception |url=https://n.rivals.com/news/miami-s-recruiting-resurgence-how-a-new-mark-richt-has-changed-the-canes |access-date=July 27, 2017}}</ref> Richt regularly brought in UM NFL alumni as coaches:<ref>{{Cite web |title=2016 UM Paradise Camp |url=http://miami.cbslocal.com/2016/07/18/2016-um-paradise-camp/ |access-date=September 3, 2016}}</ref>
{{div col|colwidth=20em}}
* [[Ray Lewis]]
* [[Ed Reed]]
* [[Vince Wilfork]]
* [[Michael Irvin]]
* [[Warren Sapp]]
* [[Antrel Rolle]]
* [[Jeremy Shockey]]
* [[Calais Campbell]]
* [[Phillip Buchanon]]
* [[Gino Torretta]]
* [[Brett Romberg]]
* [[Najeh Davenport]]
* [[Duke Johnson]]
* [[Bennie Blades]]
* [[Brian Blades]]
* [[Kenny Phillips]]
* [[Devin Hester]]
* [[Bryant McKinnie]]
* [[Willis McGahee]]
* [[Jonathan Vilma]]
* [[Jon Beason]]
* [[D. J. Williams (linebacker)|DJ Williams]]

{{div col end}}

====2015–18 seasons====
In Richt's first season at Miami, the team finished 9–4, including a victory over West Virginia in the [[2016 Russell Athletic Bowl]]. The team finished #20 nationally in the AP College Football Poll.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Chiari |first=Mike |title=AP College Football Poll 2016-17: Final Top 25 Rankings After CFP Championship |language=en-US |work=Bleacher Report |url=http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2686200-ap-college-football-poll-2016-17-final-top-25-rankings-after-cfp-championship |access-date=October 12, 2017}}</ref>

In 2017, Richt received the [[Walter Camp Coach of the Year Award]] as the Hurricanes peaked nationally with a No. 2 ranking after 16 consecutive wins, clinching the ACC Coastal title.

Miami started off 1–0, before having to sit idle for three weeks because of [[Hurricane Irma]]. The game on September 9 against Arkansas State was cancelled and the Sep 16 rivalry match-up with Florida State was postponed until October 7. While campus was temporarily closed following the hurricane, the Hurricanes practiced at the [[ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex]] in Orlando, Florida. At the eventual Florida State rivalry game, the Hurricanes pulled off a last-minute score to win the contest and rose to #11 in the AP College Football Poll.<ref>{{Cite news |title=CBS analyst Rick Neuheisel says UM's Mark Richt has done 'best coaching job' this season |work=palmbeachpost |url=http://www.palmbeachpost.com/sports/cbs-analyst-rick-neuheisel-says-mark-richt-has-done-best-coaching-job-this-season/NuRIOaTVUUrZfNbiXyP0fJ/ |access-date=October 12, 2017}}</ref> The team went on to defeat No. 14 Virginia Tech and No. 3 Notre Dame which allowed them to secure the ACC Coastal title on November 11 despite two remaining conference games. Miami climbed to No. 2 in the CFP rankings before losing to Pitt and No. 1 Clemson in the ACC title game and ended the season losing to No.6 Wisconsin in the Orange Bowl.

Miami entered the 2018 season ranked eighth in the Preseason AP and Coaches Polls.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Chiang |first=Anthony |date=August 20, 2018 |title=Miami Hurricanes football ranked No. 8 in 2018 preseason AP poll |work=[[The Palm Beach Post]] |url=https://www.palmbeachpost.com/sports/college-football/miami-hurricanes-football-ranked-2018-preseason-poll/vD2QgF3YunSBhcpyw1a8OK/ |access-date=December 30, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180927052941/https://www.palmbeachpost.com/sports/college-football/miami-hurricanes-football-ranked-2018-preseason-poll/vD2QgF3YunSBhcpyw1a8OK/ |archive-date=September 27, 2018}}</ref> However, the Hurricanes struggled throughout the year, including a four-game losing streak in October and early November, to end the regular season 7–5.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Cabrera Chirinos |first=Christy |date=November 28, 2018 |title=Hurricanes coach Mark Richt says UM's 7-5 regular season was 'frustrating for everybody' |work=[[Sun-Sentinel]] |url=https://www.sun-sentinel.com/sports/miami-hurricanes/fl-sp-um-hurricanes-mark-richt-radio-20181126-story.html |access-date=December 30, 2018}}</ref> The season ended with a 35–3 loss to Wisconsin in the [[2018 Pinstripe Bowl|Pinstripe Bowl]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Burke |first=Peter |date=December 26, 2018 |title=Richt takes blame for Pinstripe Bowl performance, hints at changes |url=https://www.local10.com/sports/college-football/hurricanes-football/richt-takes-blame-for-pinstripe-bowl-performance-hints-at-changes |access-date=December 30, 2018 |publisher=[[WPLG]]}}</ref>
[[File:2020-0113-MarkRicht.jpg|thumb|Richt at the [[2020 College Football Playoff National Championship|2020 CFP National Championship]]]]

==Retirement and television work==
Through a statement released directly and through the [[University of Miami]], Richt announced his retirement from coaching on December 30, 2018.<ref>{{Cite web |date=December 30, 2018 |title=CaneSport.com - Richt Announces Retirement |url=https://miami.rivals.com/news/richt-announces-retirement |access-date=December 30, 2018 |website=miami.rivals.com}}</ref>

Starting with the 2019 season, Richt became a football analyst for the inaugural season of the [[ACC Network]], a [[Multichannel television|subscription-television]] [[Television network|channel]] that is owned and operated by [[ESPN Inc.]] and focuses on the Atlantic Coast Conference, where Richt coached for 14 seasons at Florida State and Miami.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |date=April 20, 2019 |title=Former Georgia coach Mark Richt joins ACC Network |url=https://www.ajc.com/sports/college/former-georgia-coach-joins-acc-network/YFMQiNU4ZdkWsYG8XwHG9K/ |access-date=December 9, 2019 |website=The Atlanta Journal-Constitution (ajc.com) |language=en}}</ref>{{Efn|Only the last nine years of Richt's career at Florida State were in the ACC; the school formerly competed as an independent. Additionally, Miami was not an ACC member at the time Richt played there, but had joined the conference by the time he became head coach.|name=ACC12years|group=}}

==Personal life==
Richt is married to the former Katharyn Francis of [[Tallahassee, Florida]]. Katharyn graduated with an economics degree in 1987 from Florida State, where the couple met when she was an FSU cheerleader and Mark was a graduate assistant. Katharyn later earned a nursing degree in 2016. During Mark's tenure at Georgia, she began serving as "[[Water boy|water girl]]" so she could spend time on the sidelines during games.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |title=Mark Richt's wife will be highly involved with Miami Hurricanes {{!}} Canes Watch |url=http://caneswatch.blog.palmbeachpost.com/2016/06/02/mark-richt-wife-katharyn-house-miami-hurricanes-water-girl-christian-faith-mission/ |access-date=September 2, 2016}}</ref>

They have four children: [[Jon Richt|Jonathan]] ("Jon") (born March 11, 1990), David (born December 1, 1994), and two children they adopted from [[Ukraine]] in 1999,<ref>{{Cite web |title=GameDay looks at the Richt family's adoption of a young boy and girl from the Ukraine |url=http://sports.espn.go.com/broadband/video/videopage?categoryId=2564308&brand=null&videoId=3663225&n8pe6c=1 |work=[[ESPN]]}}{{dead link|date=July 2024|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref> Zach (born May 15, 1996), and Anya (born February 13, 1997, with a rare disorder known as [[proteus syndrome]]). Jon, like his father, was a college quarterback before becoming a coach. Jon coached at Georgia and in the NFL before serving as Mark's quarterbacks coach during his time with the Hurricanes.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Degnan |first=Susan Miller |date=March 22, 2016 |title=Mark Richt, son Jon coaching Hurricanes QBs but dad's the boss |work=Miami Herald |url=http://www.miamiherald.com/sports/college/acc/university-of-miami/article67607202.html |access-date=December 11, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=January 2, 2019 |title=Diaz takes over at The U by revamping the O |url=https://www.espn.com/college-football/story/_/id/25667791/manny-diaz-new-miami-hurricanes-coach-lets-go-entire-offensive-staff |access-date=December 11, 2019 |website=ESPN.com |language=en}}</ref>

[[ESPN]]'s ''[[College GameDay (football)|College GameDay]]'' featured a documentary on October 25, 2008, titled "GameDay looks at the Richt family's adoption of a young boy and girl from Ukraine" detailing the Richts' personal story of the adoption of Zach and Anya. The Richts declined on several occasions to publicly share their adoption story before deciding to proceed with the hope that it would encourage other families to explore its rewards.<ref>[http://sports.espn.go.com/broadband/video/video?id=3663225 The Richt Family's Life-Long Commitment – ESPN Video – ESPN<!-- Bot generated title -->]{{dead link|date=June 2017|bot=InternetArchiveBot|fix-attempted=yes}}</ref>

Richt is a devout [[Christianity|Christian]] and credits his conversion to a locker room speech given by Bobby Bowden when Richt was a 26-year-old graduate assistant.<ref name=":1" /><ref>{{Cite web |title=Seminoles Run Recalls Strong FCA Roots |url=http://www.fca.org/2014/01/04/seminoles-run-recalls-strong-fca-roots/#.VF70IZUtDIU}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Mark Richt: A Protege of Football's Finest |url=http://www.cbn.com/entertainment/sports/Mark_Richt_102907.aspx}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Writer |first=Matt Porter – Palm Beach Post Staff |title=Players, coaches, parents like UM coach's mix of faith, football |url=http://www.mypalmbeachpost.com/news/sports/college-football/hurricanes-coach-mark-richt-blends-football-and-fa/nsk8r/ |access-date=October 13, 2016}}</ref> In 2011, the Richts sold their lake house in Georgia that was valued at nearly $2 million, announcing they intended to contribute more to charity. They have also taken several mission trips abroad.<ref name=":2" />

During his tenure at Georgia, Richt's parents and sisters joined him in the Athens area. Richt's sister Nikki is married to former NFL quarterback [[Brad Johnson (American football)|Brad Johnson]], Richt was Johnson's position coach when he played at FSU. His nephew [[Max Johnson]] started at quarterback for LSU in 2020, before later transferring to Texas A&M University. His nephew, [[Jake Johnson (American football)|Jake Johnson]] also plays for Texas A&M. Both nephews transferred to the [[University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill|University of North Carolina]] in the spring of 2024.

When Richt became head coach at Miami, he and his wife purchased a house two miles from campus next to [[the Barnacle Historic State Park]] in [[Coconut Grove]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://miami.curbed.com/2016/3/18/11261558/mark-richt-home-miami-coconut-grove |title = Tour Mark Richt's New Home in Coconut Grove - Curbed Miami| date=March 18, 2016 }}</ref>

Richt appeared in the 2006 movie ''[[Facing the Giants]]'' as the former coach of the movie's main character, Grant Taylor.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Facing The Giants - In Theatres Now |url=http://www.facingthegiants.com/about_bts.php |website=www.facingthegiants.com}}</ref>

On October 21, 2019, Richt tweeted that he had suffered a [[Myocardial infarction|heart attack]] but had survived the episode and intended to resume normal activities quickly.<ref>{{Cite tweet |number=1186306937056649219 |user=MarkRicht |title=I am assuming news travels fast... |date=October 21, 2019}}</ref> On July 1, 2021, Richt announced via Twitter that he was diagnosed with [[Parkinson's disease]].<ref>{{Cite tweet |number=1410747815400132616 |user=MarkRicht |url=https://twitter.com/MarkRicht/status/1410747815400132616 |title=Register |url-access=limited}}</ref>

==Head coaching record==
{{CFB Yearly Record Start | type = coach | team = | conf = | bowl = | poll = both }}
{{CFB Yearly Record Subhead
 | name      = [[Georgia Bulldogs football|Georgia Bulldogs]]
 | conf      = [[Southeastern Conference]]
 | startyear = 2001
 | endyear   = 2015
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
 | year         = [[2001 NCAA Division I-A football season|2001]]
 | name         = [[2001 Georgia Bulldogs football team|Georgia]]
 | overall      = 8–4
 | conference   = 5–3
 | confstanding = T–3rd <small>(Eastern)</small>
 | bowlname     = [[2001 Music City Bowl|Music City]]
 | bowloutcome  = L
 | bcsbowl      = 
 | ranking      = 25
 | ranking2     = 22
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
 | championship = conference
 | year         = [[2002 NCAA Division I-A football season|2002]]
 | name         = [[2002 Georgia Bulldogs football team|Georgia]]
 | overall      = 13–1
 | conference   = 7–1
 | confstanding = 1st <small>(Eastern)</small>
 | bowlname     = [[2003 Sugar Bowl|Sugar]]
 | bowloutcome  = W
 | bcsbowl      = yes
 | ranking      = 3
 | ranking2     = 3
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
 | championship = division
 | year         = [[2003 NCAA Division I-A football season|2003]]
 | name         = [[2003 Georgia Bulldogs football team|Georgia]]
 | overall      = 11–3
 | conference   = 6–2
 | confstanding = T–1st <small>(Eastern)</small>
 | bowlname     = [[2004 Capital One Bowl|Capital One]]
 | bowloutcome  = W
 | bcsbowl      = 
 | ranking      = 6
 | ranking2     = 7
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
 | year         = [[2004 NCAA Division I-A football season|2004]]
 | name         = [[2004 Georgia Bulldogs football team|Georgia]]
 | overall      = 10–2
 | conference   = 6–2
 | confstanding = 2nd <small>(Eastern)</small>
 | bowlname     = [[2005 Outback Bowl|Outback]]
 | bowloutcome  = W
 | bcsbowl      = 
 | ranking      = 6
 | ranking2     = 7
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
 | championship = conference
 | year         = [[2005 NCAA Division I-A football season|2005]]
 | name         = [[2005 Georgia Bulldogs football team|Georgia]]
 | overall      = 10–3
 | conference   = 6–2
 | confstanding = 1st <small>(Eastern)</small>
 | bowlname     = [[2006 Sugar Bowl|Sugar]]
 | bowloutcome  = L
 | bcsbowl      = yes
 | ranking      = 10
 | ranking2     = 10
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
 | year         = [[2006 NCAA Division I FBS football season|2006]]
 | name         = [[2006 Georgia Bulldogs football team|Georgia]]
 | overall      = 9–4
 | conference   = 4–4
 | confstanding = T–3rd <small>(Eastern)</small>
 | bowlname     = [[2006 Chick-fil-A Bowl|Chick-fil-A]]
 | bowloutcome  = W
 | bcsbowl      = 
 | ranking      = 
 | ranking2     = 23
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
 | championship = division
 | year         = [[2007 NCAA Division I FBS football season|2007]]
 | name         = [[2007 Georgia Bulldogs football team|Georgia]]
 | overall      = 11–2
 | conference   = 6–2
 | confstanding = T–1st <small>(Eastern)</small>
 | bowlname     = [[2008 Sugar Bowl|Sugar]]
 | bowloutcome  = W
 | bcsbowl      = yes
 | ranking      = 3
 | ranking2     = 2
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
 | year         = [[2008 NCAA Division I FBS football season|2008]]
 | name         = [[2008 Georgia Bulldogs football team|Georgia]]
 | overall      = 10–3
 | conference   = 6–2
 | confstanding = 2nd <small>(Eastern)</small>
 | bowlname     = [[2009 Capital One Bowl|Capital One]]
 | bowloutcome  = W
 | bcsbowl      = 
 | ranking      = 10
 | ranking2     = 13
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
 | year         = [[2009 NCAA Division I FBS football season|2009]]
 | name         = [[2009 Georgia Bulldogs football team|Georgia]]
 | overall      = 8–5
 | conference   = 4–4
 | confstanding = T–2nd <small>(Eastern)</small>
 | bowlname     = [[2009 Independence Bowl|Independence]]
 | bowloutcome  = W
 | bcsbowl      = 
 | ranking      = 
 | ranking2     = 
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
 | year         = [[2010 NCAA Division I FBS football season|2010]]
 | name         = [[2010 Georgia Bulldogs football team|Georgia]]
 | overall      = 6–7
 | conference   = 3–5
 | confstanding = T–3rd <small>(Eastern)</small>
 | bowlname     = [[2010 Liberty Bowl (December)|Liberty]]
 | bowloutcome  = L
 | bcsbowl      = 
 | ranking      = 
 | ranking2     = 
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
 | championship = division
 | year         = [[2011 NCAA Division I FBS football season|2011]]
 | name         = [[2011 Georgia Bulldogs football team|Georgia]]
 | overall      = 10–4
 | conference   = 7–1
 | confstanding = 1st <small>(Eastern)</small>
 | bowlname     = [[2012 Outback Bowl|Outback]]
 | bowloutcome  = L
 | bcsbowl      = 
 | ranking      = 18
 | ranking2     = 18
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
 | championship = division
 | year         = [[2012 NCAA Division I FBS football season|2012]]
 | name         = [[2012 Georgia Bulldogs football team|Georgia]]
 | overall      = 12–2
 | conference   = 7–1
 | confstanding = T–1st <small>(Eastern)</small>
 | bowlname     = [[2013 Capital One Bowl|Capital One]]
 | bowloutcome  = W
 | bcsbowl      = 
 | ranking      = 4
 | ranking2     = 5
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
 | championship =  
 | year         = [[2013 NCAA Division I FBS football season|2013]]
 | name         = [[2013 Georgia Bulldogs football team|Georgia]]
 | overall      = 8–5
 | conference   = 5–3
 | confstanding = 3rd <small>(Eastern)</small>
 | bowlname     = [[2014 Gator Bowl|Gator]]
 | bowloutcome  = L
 | bcsbowl      = 
 | ranking      = 
 | ranking2     = 
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
 | championship =  
 | year         = [[2014 NCAA Division I FBS football season|2014]]
 | name         = [[2014 Georgia Bulldogs football team|Georgia]]
 | overall      = 10–3
 | conference   = 6–2
 | confstanding = 2nd <small>(Eastern)</small>
 | bowlname     = [[2014 Belk Bowl|Belk]]
 | bowloutcome  = W
 | bcsbowl      = 
 | ranking      = 9
 | ranking2     = 9
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
 | championship =  
 | year         = [[2015 NCAA Division I FBS football season|2015]]
 | name         = [[2015 Georgia Bulldogs football team|Georgia]]
 | overall      = 9–3
 | conference   = 5–3
 | confstanding = T–2nd <small>(Eastern)</small>
 | bowlname     = [[2016 TaxSlayer Bowl (January)|TaxSlayer]]{{Efn|Richt did not coach Georgia in the 2016 TaxSlayer Bowl because he had already accepted the head coaching position at Miami. The ranking reflects Georgia's ranking in the final regular season coaches poll.|name=TaxSlayer|group=}}
 | bowloutcome  = 
 | bcsbowl      = 
 | ranking      = 25
 | ranking2     = 
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Subtotal
 | name       = Georgia
 | overall    = 145–51
 | confrecord = 83-37
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Subhead
 | name      = [[Miami Hurricanes football|Miami Hurricanes]]
 | conf      = [[Atlantic Coast Conference]]
 | startyear = 2016
 | endyear   = 2018
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
 | championship =  
 | year         = [[2016 NCAA Division I FBS football season|2016]]
 | name         = [[2016 Miami Hurricanes football team|Miami]]
 | overall      = 9–4 
 | conference   = 5–3
 | confstanding = T–2nd <small>(Coastal)</small>
 | bowlname     = [[2016 Russell Athletic Bowl|Russell Athletic]]
 | bowloutcome  = W
 | bcsbowl      = 
 | ranking      = 23
 | ranking2     = 20
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
 | championship =  division
 | year         = [[2017 NCAA Division I FBS football season|2017]]
 | name         = [[2017 Miami Hurricanes football team|Miami]]
 | overall      = 10–3
 | conference   = 7–1
 | confstanding = 1st <small>(Coastal)</small>
 | bowlname     = [[2017 Orange Bowl|Orange]]
 | bowloutcome  = L
 | bcsbowl      = yes
 | ranking      = 13
 | ranking2     = 13
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
 | championship =  
 | year         = [[2018 NCAA Division I FBS football season|2018]]
 | name         = [[2018 Miami Hurricanes football team|Miami]]
 | overall      = 7–6 <!-- As of games through 12/27/18 -->
 | conference   = 4–4
 | confstanding = T–3rd <small>(Coastal)</small>
 | bowlname     = [[2018 Pinstripe Bowl|Pinstripe]]
 | bowloutcome  = L
 | bcsbowl      = 
 | ranking      = 
 | ranking2     = 
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Subtotal
 | name       = Miami
 | overall    = 26–13 <!-- As of games through 12/27/18 -->
 | confrecord = 16–8
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record End
 | overall     = 171–64 <!-- As of games through 12/27/18 -->
 | yearstart   = 2002
 | yearend     =
 | poll        = two
 | polltype    = 
 | polltype2   =  
}}

== Notes ==
{{Notelist}}

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==External links==
* {{College Football HoF|2523}}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20160617063000/http://www.hurricanesports.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=28700&ATCLID=210611507 Miami profile]
*[https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/coaches/mark-richt-1.html Coaching statistics] at [[Sports Reference]]

{{Miami Hurricanes quarterback navbox}}
{{Georgia Bulldogs football coach navbox}}
{{Miami Hurricanes football coach navbox}}
{{1993 Florida State Seminoles football navbox}}
{{1999 Florida State Seminoles football navbox}}
{{Walter Camp Coach of the Year}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Richt, Mark}}
[[Category:1960 births]]
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[[Category:American football quarterbacks]]
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[[Category:Miami Hurricanes football players]]
[[Category:College Football Hall of Fame inductees]]
[[Category:Players of American football from Omaha, Nebraska]]
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[[Category:Boca Raton Community High School alumni]]