In his ninth season (no season was held in 2020 due to Covid-19) as the head coach for both the men’s and women’s cross country and track and field teams, Chris Richardson saw his women’s cross country team finish in a solid eighth place at the CCCAA State Championships in 2021, along with a fourth place showing at the Southern California Championships and were second at the South Coast Conference Championships. On the men’s side, the team failed to advance to the state championships after a 15th place finish at the SoCal Championships. They were also fourth at the conference championships.

Back in 2016, the women’s team came in fifth place, while the men took ninth place, while in 2015, both the men’s and women’s cross country teams reached the podium at the CCCAA State Championships, as the men finished in fourth place and the women took fifth.

During the track and field season in 2018, the women captured their eighth CCCAA State Championship in a 14-year span and ninth in school history. They also won their sixth Southern California title in the last eight seasons, along with their sixth consecutive South Coast Conference Championships. The women’s team had their state championship streak snapped in 2019, as they finished in second place. On the men’s side, they finished in a strong sixth place at the CCCAA State Championships, to go along with a third place standing at the Southern California Championships. The team also won their first South Coast Conference championship since 2013.

There’s a very short list of people that have served as the Director of the Cerritos College Track and Field and Cross Country programs. From 1992-2011 it was Doug Wells and the addition of Richardson marked just the fourth coach in school history. As someone who competed for Wells, Richardson was no stranger to the Falcon track and field program. Prior to being named the head coach with the Falcons, Richardson was the cross country and track coach at both Compton College and Moorpark College, while he began his coaching career as an assistant on the Cerritos coaching staff after finishing his competitive career.

As a track and field athlete for Cerritos from 2004-05, Richardson was a two-time state champion in the decathlon and in 2005 set a new state record by accruing 41 team points by himself, as he also won the state championship in the long jump (24’ 7”) and javelin (191’ 1”). Additionally, he won the South Coast Conference championship in each of those events, along with the discus. His 6980 decathlon points were a college record until 2014, while he ranks third in the javelin and fourth in the long jump. After his sophomore season, Richardson competed in the Junior National Championships and come in fourth place.

One of the most sought-after recruits in the country, Richardson signed with Cal State University, Long Beach, where he was a two-time All-American selection and competed in the 2008 Olympic Team Trials, where he placed 16th with 7312 points. In his time at CSULB, Richardson was the Big West Conference Field Athlete of the Year as a senior and junior and won the championship both years. In his junior year, he set a school record with 7605 points and placed third at the NCAA Championships.

While the head coach at Moorpark College, he helped his team finish in a second place tie at the State Championship with Cerritos, while in 2012 he led ECC Compton Center to a 15th place finish on the men’s side, while the women came in 23rd place.

As a prep athlete at Downey High, Richardson was a four-time team Most Valuable Player in track and field and also lettered in football and basketball.

Richardson earned his Bachelor’s degree from Cal State University, Long Beach in Exercise Science and Master’s Degree in Exercise Science from Concordia University. He recently completed his Doctorate degree in Athletic Administration from Northcentral University.