Football
- Title:
- Cornerbacks Coach
- Email:
- jeffery.richards@sfasu.edu
Jeff Richards joined the Stephen F. Austin football staff as cornerbacks coach in March 2026.
A native of Del City, Oklahoma, Richards arrived in Nacogdoches following a stint at Coffeyville Community College, where he served as defensive coordinator and safeties coach for the Red Ravens. During his time at Coffeyville, he oversaw the secondary and played a key role in developing defensive backs within one of the top junior college conferences in the country.
Prior to Coffeyville, Richards coached at Valdosta State University as the cornerbacks coach during the 2023 season. He also gained experience at the Power Five level, working as a defensive intern at University of Texas in 2022, where he assisted with defensive operations and game preparation.
A former defensive back, Richards began his collegiate playing career at Northeastern Oklahoma A&M College before finishing at Emporia State University. He went on to play professionally across multiple leagues, including time in the Arena Football League with the Spokane Shock and in the Canadian Football League with the Ottawa Redblacks, where he was part of a Grey Cup championship team in 2016.
Richards also spent time in the National Football League with the Carolina Panthers (2017), Los Angeles Chargers (2017-18) and Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2018) before closing his career with a return to the CFL with the Toronto Argonauts (2019-21) and Edmonton Elks (2022).
