Stepping Down Barbara Richards Coming To Grips With Decision To End Service As Lc’s Head Gymnastics Coach

Sometimes when you truly love doing something, it is hard to give it up, even though you know it is time to move on to new things.

Barbara Richards, head gymnastics coach at Lewis and Clark High School for the past five years, knows that all too well. She’s had to come to terms with the finality of her decision to retire at the end of the season.

“I love working with the girls,” she said, “but it seems like I have been going nonstop for the past six years without a break for my family or myself.”

After taking over as the Tigers’ head coach following the 1991-1992 season, Richards has had to balance her growing family with her coaching responsibilities. She’s the mother of three boys - Connor, 6, Trevor, 5, and Parker, 3 - and spouse of Jim, a local firefighter.

“I was pregnant with Trevor my first season as head coach,” Richards said. “He was born in the middle of the season and went with me to a meet three days later.”

Over the years, the boys have spent more than a few hours at gymnastics practice. “The kids love going to gymnastics,” Richards said, “but it is hard to keep an eye on them, and that’s not fair to the girls.”

LC’s gymnasts do not seem to mind. “Barb’s kids are great,” said Meghan Murphy, a senior gymnast who has been under Richards’ tutelage for four years. “She is just such an incredible coach.”

Richards’ approach to coaching has many other admirers.

“She looks at the whole person, whether as a student, an athlete, or a girl who might be having problems at home,” said Kathy Harrison, who coached Richards at North Central in the early 1980s and is now the head gymnastics coach at Rogers.

“When I had some injury problems a while back, she really cared for me,’ said Anne Sackville-West, another senior who has been with Richards for four years. “To Barb, being a coach is more than just about gymnastics.”

Michele Peterson, Richards’s successor and current assistant coach, said, “I have fallen in love with her coaching style.

“When I was competing, gymnastics was just about your score,” Peterson said. “You could not really enjoy your routine because you just wanted to get it out of the way. Barb doesn’t want the girls to forget about what is going on in their lives when they get to gymnastics practice. They may be emotionally hurt, so they might hurt themselves physically.”

Richards describes her approach simply: “My girls are busy with their academics, trying to get into college, and work, so they don’t need any more stress from me.”

Throughout her tenure as head coach, Richards hasn’t had many experienced gymnasts in her program, like many of the more competitive Greater Spokane League schools.

Most gymnastic clubs, like Spokane Elite Gymnastics, are in the Valley, and District 81 does not have gymnastics in middle schools.

The girls Richards works with have either no gymnastics experience or only sporadic experiences while they were growing up.

“We start from the beginning, so all of their accomplishments are great,” Richards said.

She sees the formation of Lilac City Gymnastics, a club in the city, as a positive sign for LC’s competitive chances in the coming years.

“We may have some club girls coming in next year,” Richards said.

LC’s difficulty in competing with the Valley schools does not seem to bother Richards, who went to the state finals while competing for North Central.

“The girls and their parents have realistic expectations,” Richards said. “They do not need the stress that comes from trying to compete unrealistically.”

That is not to say that Richards is lenient. The team, which is 2-11 on the season, practices five or six days a week.

“We have a lot of fun,” said Murphy, who is looking forward to Richards’ annual sleepover in February. “And all of her criticism is constructive.”

Well-wishers can see Richards at LC’s only home meet of the season today at the Lewis Clark fieldhouse at 7 p.m.

Richards’ memorable moments over the years include accompanying Becky Olson, a three-time state-qualifier, to the state finals as an assistant coach during the 1991-1992 season and sending her own group of girls to the regional tournament the following season.

Richards plans to spend more time with her kids and husband and go cycling more often after this last season. She has taken part in the bicycle ride from Seattle to Portland (STP) and the Tour des Lacs. She does not rule out coaching as an assistant in the future.

“I am going to take it one day at a time,” she said. “I’m not saying yes to anyone yet.”

, DataTimes MEMO: This sidebar appeared with the story: HOME MEET Lewis and Clark High School hosts its only home meet of the season tonight at 7 p.m. It will be Barbara Richards’ last home stand.