SFU’s new senior director of athletics and recreation, Milton Richards, brings experience at all three levels of the National Collegiate Athletics Association (NCAA).

Richards took the reins Nov. 1, replacing former director David Murphy who left in the spring when his three-year contract was up.

The Liverpool, N.Y., native spent the last 12 years as athletics and recreation director at NCAA Division II California State University (CSU)-Stanislaus.

Before that, Richards was athletic director at the State University of New York at Albany during the school’s move from NCAA Division III to NCAA Division I.

His NCAA Division I experience also includes more than a decade at Temple University and Kansas State University.

“Priority number one is to listen,” says Richards. “I need to learn what people like about athletics and recreation, and what they expect from us.

“We then need to develop a strategic plan that allows our student-athletes to graduate, while positively promoting the institution through a winning athletics and recreation program that the Simon Fraser community is proud of."

Richards also plans on engaging the communities SFU serves in Metro Vancouver to ensure his department has a positive impact at the grassroots level.

“Milton has an impressive track record of building successful programs through strong fundraising initiatives, community outreach, impressive graduation rates of student-athletes and, of course, fielding teams that win,” says Tim Rahilly, SFU’s VP-students and international.

“His experience will be invaluable as we continue working towards becoming the first Canadian school with full fledged membership in the NCAA.”

Richards, 53, who is married with two adult children, earned three degrees from West Virginia University (WVU), including an Ed.D (1983), a MSc. (1982), and a BSc. (1980)

He has authored several articles on issues related to intercollegiate athletics and has gained a reputation throughout the United States for his work in the field.

“Milton is an outstanding hire for Simon Fraser University,” says WVU athletics and recreation director, Oliver Luck.

“He is an energetic, dynamic leader who will bring good, creative ideas to SFU. I have no doubt he will do a great job with an already strong program.”