Chris Richardson has dedicated his career to working with students and coaching the game of baseball. It is fitting that McCallie School will name the baseball hitting pavilion adjacent to Kenny Sholl Stadium as the Chris Richardson Hitting Facility in a dedication ceremony Monday.
“Chris Richardson is a man of great faith and character,” Head of School Lee Burns said. “He has faithfully served McCallie with excellence in many ways, including in our baseball program. McCallie is honored to name our baseball hitting facility for him.”
Chris was hired as a teacher and coach at McCallie in 1997. He has been a member of the baseball and football coaching staffs since that time and has been part of each program’s successes.
Chris was named head baseball coach in 2001 and held that position until 2012. During that time, he guided the Blue Tornado to the State Tournament four times, including a runner up finish in 2007. He led the program to five league championships, three region championships, and eight sectional appearances.
“This is a very humbling and unexpected honor,” Richardson said. “First, I would like to thank God for all the work He has done in my life. I want to thank Lee Burns, Kenny Sholl and McCallie School for this honor.
“Anytime anything like this happens, it is a result of the players and assistant coaches that you get to work with. They are the ones who do the work, and I am truly thankful for them and, most importantly, the relationships that I have had with them all.”
During his tenure as head coach, he recorded 22 wins against rival Baylor and five victories over nationally-ranked opponents. He is a three-time Tennessee Athletic Coaches Association Region Coach of the Year, a four-time Tennessee Baseball Coaches Association Sectional Coach of the Year, and was twice named the Chattanooga Times Free Press Area Baseball Coach of the Year.
He compiled an overall coaching record of 245-187, the most wins in program history, and 22 of his former players went on to play collegiately.
“First and foremost, Chris is a man of deep and abiding faith,” Executive Athletic Director Kenny Sholl said. “He has been a caring and thoughtful mentor to many McCallie boys throughout his career. And, I have never met anyone who loves the game of baseball more than Chris.”
Chris was inducted into the Chattanooga Sports Hall of Fame and the Chattanooga Central High School Sports Hall of Fame in 2023.
“I would also like to thank my family,” Richardson said. “My wife and children sacrificed a lot to allow me to live the dream of a lifetime. I could have never done this without their love and support.”
The event will begin at 6:45 p.m. on the baseball diamond prior to the start of the McCallie vs. Baylor varsity baseball game. First pitch of the game is set for 7 p.m.