After a successful career on the field with the University of Regina Rams, Addison Richards has found a new role to help out the program as the team’s receivers coach.

Prior to the 2021 season, Richards joined the Rams coaching staff.

During his playing days, the local product became of the school’s all-time receivers with an impressive resume of 108 catches, 1663 receiving yards, and seven touchdowns during his time with the University of Regina.

The former receiver says that he has always appreciated the effort that goes into coaching, especially now that he is a member of the Rams staff.

“These guys have day jobs that they’re at families and personal things that take up time and they still find a way to put together practice plans, game plans for the opponent each week.”

One of the things that help prepared him for the difficult task of handling the multiple responsibilities that comes with coaching was balancing football and academics according to Richards.

“Just being able to balance at that time course work and sports. Now a days balancing a full time job, a career with the various coaching commitments that I have.” Which he added is something that has always come easy for him.

Along with coaching with the Rams, during the offseason, Richards spends time coaching with the Selects program. He says he really enjoys working with receivers on the varsity level and helping the players develop their skills in the early stages of their careers.

The Rams receivers coach believes that players are more polished and thinks that they are taking advantage of the resources that surround them.

“The training, the elite teams in the province and various other programs, such as the Selects program that these kids do year round is tremendous. The coaching, I don’t think has ever been stronger and only continues to get stronger. ”

After his time with the Rams, Richards moved on to the CFL with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers where he played for a pair of seasons before retiring in 2017. Being only a few years removed from his playing career is a big benefit for the 29-year-old in his coaching career.

“I try to be a teacher first and then worry about winning and losing secondarily.”

The Coach of the Week segment runs weekly on Monday’s edition of the SportsCage