Marty Richter introduced as new coach at Upstate

Marty Richter poses with his family after being introduced as USC Upstate head coach. (Photo by Ryan Frye/USC Upstate Athletics)

By Justin Mathis (@J_Math23)

SPARTANBURG, S.C. — Marty Richter could hardly contain his excitement after being introduced as the 11th head coach of the USC Upstate men’s basketball program Wednesday morning.

Richter takes the helm of the Spartans following a six-year stint as an assistant at Drake University, where the Bulldogs compiled a 150-55 record that featured three conference championships and three NCAA tournament berths. Prior to his time at Drake, Richter compiled a 56-10 record in two seasons as head coach at Florida Southwestern State, where the Buccaneers came one win shy of competing for the NJCAA national championship in 2018. He also amassed an 85-82 mark in four years on staff at Florida Gulf Coast (2011-15) and notched an outstanding 69-4 record as an assistant at Chipotle College (2007-09). He also went 38-17 in two years as a graduate assistant at South Dakota (2001-03).

“This has been a dream of mine since 1999 and I’ve wanted to be a Division I head coach,” Richter said at his introductory press conference. “I finally got the opportunity here at Upstate.”

 

“I have waited a long time. I’ve lost out on other jobs and that’s part of it as an assistant coach. You try for a job and get told no, then try for another job and get told no. When they offered me the job last week and I said yes, I was so happy. This is going to be my 25th year in athletics. I cannot wait for this opportunity”

 

Richter is familiar with USC Upstate due to his time as an assistant at Florida Gulf Coast from 2011-15, when both institutions were in the Atlantic Sun Conference. He raved about the history of the program and what could be in the future for the Spartans.

 

“The reason that it was so attractive is because when Coach (Eddie) Payne was here eight or nine years ago, I was at Florida Gulf Coast,” Richter shared. “He had really good teams that included Torrey Craig and Ty Greene, and they would give us fits. I always thought, ‘man, he does a really good job here.’ Once the job opened, I let my agent know that I would have sincere interest in it because I know what the program has done in the past.”

 

“They have won here,” Richter exclaimed while pointing at the 1981-82 NAIA championship banner adorning the wall. “They won a national title here (coached by Jerry Waters) and everyone forgets that. I know it was only NAIA, but that team was a terrific team, and then they had Division II success. They've had some success at the Division I level, but you can build on that. Some of the places I have been were not set up like this. I have been a part of building programs. I look at this as we’ve got to reload the program and get it going in the right direction.”

 

With how much of an impact the transfer portal has in collegiate athletics today, Richter is confident in being able to utilize it and help the Spartan program improve.

 

“This is what it’s done,” he explained. “With me being a junior college coach as an assistant at one time and as a head coach, you have to make a new roster every year, but you’ve got to have sustainability in your program. My background of being at every different level helps you navigate the portal and put together a team.”

 

As the spring semester concludes, Richter knows the 2024-25 campaign is fast approaching. He aims to instill a renewed focus in the team, especially for the players that will don the black and green next season.

 

“We are 0-0 right now,” he stated. “The returning players know that we are not 10-20 (the team’s record in 2023-24), we are 0-0 and it is a new season. Their season will start when they report back in June. I have to convince them and make sure they are ready to win. I have been a part of successful teams because of who I’ve worked for.”

 

“I’m going to use a lot of what they did to teach these guys how to be successful.”