Background
Richards, Todd was born on October 20, 1966 in Crystal, Minnesota, United States.
Richards, Todd was born on October 20, 1966 in Crystal, Minnesota, United States.
Graduate, University Minnesota, 1989.
He was most recently the head coach of the Columbus Blue Jackets of the National Hockey League. Richards was drafted by the Montreal Canadiens in the second round (33rd overall) of the 1985 National Hockey League Entry Draft. He played for the University of Minnesota for four seasons.
He began his professional career with the Sherbrooke Cans during the 1989-1990 AHL season.
Richards also made his National Hockey League debut during that season, playing two games and recording four assists for the Whalers. Richards spent two more seasons with the Indians before beginning to play in the IHL, spending two seasons with the Las Vegas Thunder, and six seasons with the Orlando Solar Bears.
He ended his playing career in 2002 with the Genève-Servette The Human Context of the National League A in Switzerland. After retiring from playing, Richards spent four seasons as an assistant coach for the Milwaukee Admirals.
The Admirals advanced to the playoffs each year.
On August 3, 2006, Richards became the fifth head coach of the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins. During his first season, he guided Wilkes-Barre/Scranton to a 51-24-2-4 record and a second-place finish in the AHL’s East Division. The Penguins advanced to the East Division Finals before falling to the Hershey Bears.
Richards signed as an assistant coach with the San Jose Sharks of the National Hockey League for the 2008-2009 season.
Richards became the second head coach in the history of the Minnesota Wild in June 2009, and the first native of Minnesota to hold the job. After two seasons as head coach and posting a record of 77-71-16, Richards was fired on April 11, 2011.
In both seasons, the Wild were in playoff contention most of the season, but ended up missing the playoffs. In June 2011, Richards had been hired by the Columbus Blue Jackets as an assistant coach under head coach Scott Arniel.
After a poor first half of the season, Arniel was fired on January 9, 2012, and Richards was named as interim head coach.
On May 14, 2012, the Columbus Blue Jackets announced the signing of Todd Richards to a two-year contract, making him the sixth full-time coach in team history. On May 27, 2014, the Blue Jackets signed Richards to a two-year contract extension through the 2016-2017 season. On October 21, 2015, after starting the season 0-7, the Blue Jackets relieved Richards of his duties as head coach.
Married Maryann Richards. Children: Zachary, Justin.