NEL baseball hires Richardson

By By Will Bardwell/staff writer
July 22, 2004
Reggie Richardson doesn't care about the events that led to his hiring as Northeast Lauderdale's new baseball coach. He just wants to get to work.
Richardson, who officially became the Trojans' coach on July 15 when he was approved by the Lauderdale County School Board, was the outcome of a search that took an unexpected turn earlier this summer. Initially, Northeast Lauderdale granted the job to Monty McMullen of Florence.
But when McMullen was arrested and charged with having sex with a Florence student, Northeast Lauderdale withdrew its offer before McMullen signed a contract.
In stepped Richardson.
Richardson, who replaces interim coach Steve Nelson, inherits a team that went 22-11 in 2004 and advanced to the second round of the 4A state playoffs.
Northeast Lauderdale principal Rob Calcote said he thinks Richardson is the right man to keep the Trojans winning.
Richardson arrives at Northeast Lauderdale with five years of coaching experience, including one season as a head coach. After spending two years as an assistant at Jones Junior College, Richardson was head coach at Southeast Lauderdale in 2002. Richardson spent the last two seasons as an assistant at East Central Community College.