Thirty-year-old Upton native is elevated to assistant coach with added responsibilities, from director of operations with Holy Cross men's basketball
When Colin Richey was filling out his T&G boys’ basketball all-star questionnaire after his junior season at Whitinsville Christian, he wrote “basketball coach” for his career goal.
Richey — with his dad, Dennis, who ran an area AAU program, and his Whitinsville Christian coach, Jeff Bajema, as major influences — knew early on what he wanted to do when he grew up.
“(Coaching) was something I was always drawn to,” Richey said, “and I wanted to be part of the game. I was lucky enough to have really good coaches when I was younger, and they molded my thought process. A lot of kids go into college and have no idea what they want to do. Coaching was always the goal for me.”
After time on the staff at Nichols, Assumption and Tufts, Richey became Holy Cross’ director of operations in 2023 when Dave Paulsen took over the Crusaders. This week, the 30-year-old Richey was promoted to assistant coach/director of operations.
“Colin has worked tirelessly and effectively at the often-thankless tasks of the operations position,” Paulsen said. “He has a tremendous basketball mind and an excellent rapport with all our players. I’m looking forward to seeing Colin’s continued growth as a coach and am grateful for the positive energy he brings to our program on a daily basis.”
Richey’s primary responsibilities the last two years at HC included involvement in recruiting efforts, summer clinics, day-to-day office duties and serving as the team’s travel and video coordinator.
In his new position, he will continue with operations while adding more responsibilities on the court and on the road recruiting, he said.
“I’m excited about that,” Richey said. “The last two years, I buckled down on the operations side and tried to perfect that so I can get back on the basketball side more. It’s been a great experience, and I couldn’t be happier to be here and work for Coach Paulsen and his program.”
Richey, who grew up in Upton and lives in Whitinsville, was Whitinsville Christian’s star point guard and helped lead those Crusaders to three straight Central Mass. Division 3 championships and the 2011 state title.
After prepping at Choate Rosemary Hall in Wallingford, Connecticut, Richey played four years at St. Michael’s College. He landed his first coaching job soon after graduation, in 2018, when Scott Faucher, one of the assistants at St. Michael’s when Richey played there, was hired to lead Nichols.
“I called to congratulate him,” Richey said, “and he said he needed an assistant.”
Richey moved home, joined Faucher’s staff and was part of a historic season at Nichols. The Bison won 28 games, captured the Commonwealth Coast Conference tournament championship at the Hart Center and advanced to the NCAA Division 3 Tournament Elite Eight.
“It was a great year,” Richey said. “That group kind of catapulted everything for me. I owe a lot to those guys.”
Assumption hired Faucher the next season, and Richey was on his Greyhounds’ staff for one year. Richey also coached the Whitinsville Christian JV team.
Before Holy Cross, Richey spent two seasons at Tufts under Brandon Linton, also a former Nichols coach, and helped the Jumbos to an NCAA appearance in 2022-23.
Richey was very happy at Tufts, but the Holy Cross opportunity was intriguing for many reasons.
“To come back home and work at the Division 1 level at a school I always idolized,” Richey said. “I wish I was a good enough player to play here back in the day. I figured working and coaching here would be the second-best option.”
Richey’s good friend and fellow Whitinsville Christian alum Alex Vander Baan, who starred at Holy Cross, put in a word for him with Paulsen.
“I’ve been really, really lucky to work with the staffs both years I’ve been here,” Richey said. “We have really, really good kids and players. Observing how the staff works, how the players work and seeing everything that goes into a Division 1 program outside of basketball has opened my eyes and made me more organized and thorough in my work. I’ve been surrounded by great coaches in my career, too.”
Richey’s ultimate goal is to be a head coach.
“I’m not sure about the level,” he said. “I enjoy being at the Division 1 level. Having access to the guys most of the year is cool because you can work with them and see their development, but I had a great experience on the Division 2 and Division 3 levels as well.
"Hopefully one day I can get there no matter what the level, and I’ll just be happy to coach basketball.”
—Contact Jennifer Toland at [email protected]. Follow her on X, formerly known as Twitter, @JenTolandTG.
This article originally appeared on Telegram & Gazette: Former Whitinsville Christian star Colin Richey nets promotion on HC staff
Category: General Sports
