DALLAS — The school board of the Dallas School District voted 7-2 on Monday to accept the retirement of Athletic Director Michael Richards. In addition to his role as AD, Richards also worked in the school district as an occupational therapist and as the Mountaineers’ varsity wrestling coach.
The motion accepting Richards’ retirement said the school district was making a retirement recommendation with “regrets and gratitude.”
Superintendent Thomas Duffy declined to comment on the retirement, citing a district policy against discussing personnel matters.
The school board first hired Richards to serve as athletic director in 2019 to succeed the outgoing Nancy Roberts. Before being hired to take over the role on a permanent basis, Richards had served as a temporary athletic director. At the time of his hire, Richards described his temporary stint as a positive experience and said he was glad to be offered the full-time role.
“Dallas has a tradition of having very strong academic and athletics programs,” Richards said at the time of his hire in 2019. “My goal is to maintain that. Not only maintain that, but take that even further in the future. Make sure that we’re doing all the right things.”
According to a resume posted online on the website bold.pro, Richards has a master of science degree in Occupational Therapy from what was then College Misericordia in 2000. He worked for a time as an occupational therapist at the John Heinz Institute of Rehabilitation before joining the Dallas School District in 2006.
Richards’ retirement is effective Dec. 1 and he is to receive all benefits to which he is entitled under applicable law. He did not respond to a request for comment sent to him Wednesday asking about his retirement or career history.
