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Richard Schmidt has completed his 40th season as the University of Tampa head men's basketball coach, where he has led the Spartans to a total of 30 winning seasons. The UT Athletic Hall of Fame induction in October 2004, Schmidt received the much-deserved reward after more than two decades of success and contributions to the basketball program.

He has compiled a school record of 714-422 (.629) with a 321-261 (.552) record in the Sunshine State Conference. Before Schmidt’s arrival, UT basketball posted a 207-315 record (.397). Overall, Schmidt owns an all-time overall record of 742-449 (.623).

Schmidt concluded the 2022-23 season as one of the winningest coaches in the nation. He ranks eighth among winningest active coaches across at NCAA divisions as he is 35th on the all-time wins list for all divisions.

Winning his milestone 700th career game in 2018, Schmidt became just the third active coach in NCAA Division II to accomplish the feat as he also became the eighth coach in D2 history to reach 700 wins.

Schmidt became the fourth active NCAA Division II coach and 12th overall to reach 600 victories as his Spartans defeated the University of Puerto Rico-Bayamon by a 53-44 score on Nov. 26, 2011, in a game played at Eckerd College. He notched his 600th Spartan victory during the 2013-14 season with a 64-49 triumph again at Eckerd.

While serving as the head coach at Vanderbilt for two seasons from 1979-81, Schmidt guided the Commodores to a sixth-place finish in the SEC in his first season. Highlighting his rookie season campaign were victories over LSU, Auburn, Florida, Mississippi State and Georgia. In his second season at Vanderbilt, Schmidt led his team to a 60-55 victory over Kentucky in the SEC Tournament before falling in the SEC Finals to Mississippi State. The 1980-81 season featured victories over notable opponents including Iowa State, Memphis, Alabama, Georgia, Auburn and Florida.

Schmidt came to Tampa in 1982 to resurrect a program that had been dormant for 13 years. His first season (1983-84), he took a starting lineup of one junior and four freshmen and won the Sunshine State Conference tournament and the accompanying bid to the NCAA Division II tournament, en route to a 20-11 season. It was the first time in NCAA history that a first-year team (in any division) made the national tournament. His teams have made 14 NCAA Tournament appearances, including the 2001 season, when he guided Tampa to the NCAA Final Four, where the Spartans fell to national champion Kentucky Wesleyan by one-point in overtime. The following season, in 2001-02, Schmidt guided his team to a 26-3 overall record while tying his school record for victories in a season with the 1986-87 and 1989-90 squads.

Under Schmidt’s direction the Spartans have finished first or second in the SSC all but nine years. He was voted South Region Coach of the Year following the 1985-86 season and was named the Sunshine State Conference Coach of the Year in 1986, 1989, 1990, 1993, 2000, and 2002. In 2010-11, Schmidt guided Tampa to the best start in program history, as the squad won its first 16 games.

Among the outstanding players who have adorned Tampa’s red, black and gold under Schmidt are the 2008 SSC Player of the Year Jeremy Black, 2006 SSC Player-of-the-Year and all-time career assist leader Mark Borders, 2002 SSC Player of the Year Jon Brown, 1998 SSC Player of the Year Tamari Thompson, 1995 SSC Player of the Year Idris Mays, three-time All-American and two-time Division II Player of the Year Todd Linder, NBA veteran Nate Johnston, two-time All-American and NCAA record holder Bryan Williams and SSC scoring champions Drexel and DeCarlo Deveaux, the latter also a two-time All-American and SSC Player of the Year.

A 1964 graduate of Western Kentucky University, Schmidt began his playing career at Westport High School in Louisville. In 1969, he became head coach at Ballard High School where he built a dynasty for the next eight years. Twice voted Kentucky’s outstanding high school coach and three-time Louisville prep Coach of the Year, Schmidt led Ballard to a 183-32 record during his tenure. His teams earned six district titles in addition to the 1977 Kentucky State Championship. In all, he sent 21 players to college on full scholarships.

After winning the state crown in 1977, Schmidt moved to the collegiate coaching ranks as an assistant to Terry Holland at the University of Virginia. The Cavaliers participated in the National  Invitation Tournament in each of his two seasons (1978-79) at Virginia and compiled a record of 39-18.

A professional aviculturist, Schmidt breeds exotic birds (some of which he’s sold to Wayne Newton) and keeps well over 100 in his backyard aviary. Recognized worldwide as an expert in the field, Schmidt’s interest has taken him to China and Indonesia.

Richard is married to Mary Jo and they have two children, Steven and Staci, and seven grandchildren.

Sunshine State Conference Championships
Regular Season (eight) - 1984-85, 1985-86, 1988-89, 1989-90, 1992-93, 1993-94, 1997-98, 2001-02
Tournament (five) - 1984, 1985, 1995, 1997, 2002

NCAA Tournaments (16): 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1997, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2008, 2014

NCAA Tournament National Semifinals: 2001

ALL-AMERICAN (11)

1984-85 - Todd Linder (1st)
1985-86 - Todd Linder (1st)
1986-87 - Todd Linder (1st)
1989-90 - Bryan Williams (2nd)
1990-91 - Bryan Williams (3rd, Basketball Times)
1992-93 - DeCarlo Deveaux (2nd)
1993-94 - DeCarlo Deveaux (1st)
2001-02 - Jon Brown (2nd)
2007-08 - Jeremy Black (1st NABC, 2nd Daktronics)
2009-10 - Rashad Callaway (HM Divison II Bulletin)
2010-11 - Rashad Callaway (HM Division II Bulletin

NATIONAL PLAYER OF THE YEAR (four)
1985-86 - Todd Linder
1986-87 - Todd Linder
1993-94 - DeCarlo Deveaux
2001-02 - Jon Brown (Division II Bulletin)

FIRST TEAM ALL-SOUTH REGION (nine)
1986-87 - Todd Linder
1989-90 - Bryan Williams
1990-91 - Drexel Deveaux
1992-93 - DeCarlo Deveaux
1993-94 - DeCarlo Deveaux
1997-98 - Tamari Thompson
2007-08 - Jeremy Black (Daktronics, NABC)
2009-10 - Rashad Callaway (Daktronics, NABC)
2010-11 - Rashad Callaway (NABC)

SOUTH REGION PLAYER OF THE YEAR
2007-08 - Jeremy Black (Daktronics)

FIRST TEAM ALL-SSC (24)
1984-85 - Todd Linder 
1985-86 - Todd Linder, Nate Johnston, John Jones
1986-87 - Todd Linder, Nate Johnston
1988-89 - Bryan Williams
1989-90 - Bryan Williams, Drexel Deveaux
1990-91 - Bryan Williams, Drexel Deveaux
1992-93 - DeCarlo Deveaux
1993-94 - DeCarlo Deveaux, Idris Mays
1994-95 - Idris Mays
1995-96 - Josh Chapin
1997-98 - Tamari Thompson, Don Mallory
1999-2000 - Jon Brown, Percy White
2000-01 - Sylvere Bryan, Gecarri Freeman
2001-02 - Sylvere Bryan, Jon Brown
2002-03 - Achille Ngounou
2003-04 - James Mereus
2004-05 - Mark Borders
2005-06 - Mark Borders, Chris Evans
2006-07- Jeremy Black
2007-08 - Jeremy Black
2008-09 - Rashad Callaway
2009-10 - Rashad Callaway
2010-11 - Rashad Callaway
2014-15 - Jordan Davis

SSC NEWCOMER OF THE YEAR
2014-15 - Eugene McCrory

SSC FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR (three)
2015-16 - Pat Bacon
2018-19 - Marco Downer

2020-21 - Max Jones

SSC PLAYER OF THE YEAR (seven)
1992-93 - DeCarlo Deveaux
1993-94 - DeCarlo Deveaux
1994-95 - Idris Mays
1997-98 - Tamari Thompson
2001-02 - Jon Brown
2005-06 - Mark Borders
2007-08 - Jeremy Black

SSC DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR (three)
2007-08 - Johnathan Ball
2017-18 - Duke Shelton
2018-19 - Marco Downer

SSC MALE ATHLETE OF THE YEAR (all sports)
2007-08 - Jeremy Black 

CoSIDA ACADEMIC ALL-DISTRICT

2010-11 - Glyn Hunter (first team)
2014-15 - Matt Johnson

SSC COACH OF THE YEAR (six)
1985-86,1988-89, 1989-90, 1992-93, 1999-2000, 2001-02

700, Dec. 8, 2018, def. Florida Tech, 99-69
600, Nov. 26, 2011, def. Puerto Rico-Bayamon, 53-44
500, Dec. 9, 2005, def. Eckerd, 67-58
400, Jan. 10, 2001, def. St. Leo, 67-65
300, Feb. 20, 1996, def. North Florida, 53-50
200, Jan. 2, 1991, def. St. Ambrose (Iowa), 94-80
100, Jan. 7, 1987, def. St. Joseph’s, 85-56