Dick Tarrant
Tarrant in 1982
Biographical details
Born (1928-09-15) September 15, 1928 (age 95)
Jersey City, New Jersey, U.S.
Alma materFordham University (1951)
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
1965–1969Fordham (asst.)
1978–1981Richmond (asst.)
1981–1993Richmond
Head coaching record
Overall239–126 (.655)
Tournaments5–5 (NCAA Division I)
2–4 (NIT)
Accomplishments and honors
Championships
5 CAA regular season (1984, 1985, 1988, 1989, 1992)
4 CAA tournament (1984, 1988, 1990, 1991)
Awards
4× CAA Coach of the Year (1984, 1986, 1989, 1991)

Richard Joseph Tarrant Jr. (born September 15, 1928) was the head men's basketball coach at the University of Richmond[1] from 1981 through 1993. Tarrant, led the Spiders to five NCAA tournament and four NIT berths in his twelve seasons as head coach—the first postseason appearances in school history.[2]

Tarrant was raised in Englewood, New Jersey.[3] He attended St. Cecilia High School in Englewood, where his basketball coach was Vince Lombardi.[4]

Under Tarrant, the Spiders gained a reputation as giant killers. In their first NCAA appearance, in 1984, they upended an Auburn team led by Charles Barkley in the first round. In 1988, they defeated defending national champion Indiana and Georgia Tech to advance to the Sweet Sixteen—the deepest run by a Colonial Athletic Association team at the time—before losing to Temple. In 1991, Tarrant led the 15th seed Spiders to an upset win over second-seeded Syracuse—the first time that a 15th seed had made it out of the first round.

In 2013, Tarrant was inducted into the Virginia Sports Hall of Fame.[5] In 2015, Richmond named the playing surface at the Robins Center "Dick Tarrant Court" in Tarrant's honor.[3] He left Richmond as the winningest coach in school history, though he has since been passed by Chris Mooney.

Head coaching record

Statistics overview
Season Team Overall Conference Standing Postseason
Richmond Spiders (ECAC South / Colonial Athletic Association) (1981–1993)
1981–82 Richmond 18–11 6–4 2nd NIT first round
1982–83 Richmond 12–16 2–7 6th
1983–84 Richmond 22–10 7–3 1st NCAA Division I second round
1984–85 Richmond 21–11 11–3 T–1st NIT second round
1985–86 Richmond 23–7 12–2 2nd NCAA Division I first round
1986–87 Richmond 15–14 8–6 3rd
1987–88 Richmond 26–7 11–3 1st NCAA Division I Sweet 16
1988–89 Richmond 21–10 13–1 1st NIT second round
1989–90 Richmond 22–10 10–4 T–2nd NCAA Division I first round
1990–91 Richmond 22–10 10–4 2nd NCAA Division I second round
1991–92 Richmond 22–8 12–2 T–1st NIT first round
1992–93 Richmond 15–12 10–4 3rd
Richmond: 239–126 (.655) 112–43 (.723)
Total: 239–126 (.655)

      National champion         Postseason invitational champion  
      Conference regular season champion         Conference regular season and conference tournament champion
      Division regular season champion       Division regular season and conference tournament champion
      Conference tournament champion

References

  1. ^ Feinstein, John (December 12, 1988). "Into The Limelight". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved October 9, 2010.
  2. ^ Iannazzone, Al (September 14, 2010). "Former coach Dick Tarrant keeping a hand in hoops". North Jersey. Retrieved October 9, 2010.
  3. ^ a b Staff. "Richmond to name Robins Center hardwood after coach Dick Tarrant", NCAA, July 30, 2015. Accessed August 12, 2016. "A native of Englewood, New Jersey, Tarrant came to Richmond as an assistant coach in 1978, and he became head coach in 1981."
  4. ^ Vecsey, George (March 20, 1988). "Sports of The Times; A Portrait of a Late-Blooming Coach". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved February 3, 2023.
  5. ^ "Coach Tarrant Elected To Virginia Sports Hall Of Fame". Richmond Spiders. January 14, 2013. Retrieved August 18, 2014.
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