Holly Richards
Class of 2023
For Holly Richards, volleyball has always been more than a sport—it’s been a calling. From her days as a standout middle blocker at Westminster Christian Academy to her collegiate years at Wallace State and the University of Alabama, volleyball shaped her path. Yet, even during her playing career, Holly knew her true passion was coaching.
With a 24-year coaching career boasting 327 wins and two Alabama High School Athletic Championships at Westminster Christian, Holly has proven her instincts correct. Her teams have consistently excelled, with Westminster winning back-to-back state titles in 2021 and 2022. Transitioning from 4A to 5A, her 2022 squad capped a stellar 47-9 season by defeating Arab in the finals.
Her coaching accolades extend beyond high school. At McGill-Toolen, Holly led her team to the 6A state championship in 2004. She has also guided numerous teams in the North Alabama Spikers Association Volleyball Club to top 10 finishes in National Qualifiers and top 25 finishes in USA Volleyball National Tournaments.
Holly’s love for coaching is rooted in her belief that great teams are built collectively, not individually. “As a player, you’re focused on improving yourself—there’s a necessary selfishness to that,” she explains. “But as a coach, your focus is entirely on the team. That’s why coaching is better than playing. It’s about bringing people together to achieve something bigger than themselves.”
Even during her playing days at Alabama, where she earned second-team All-SEC honors, Holly admired her teammate Nina Foster’s dominance and humility, reinforcing her desire to support others as a coach.
Holly remains deeply dedicated to the sport she loves. For her, the journey has always been about one word: “coach.”
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