Join us as Jessica presents on creating a healthy team culture where all female athletes feel like they are part of a large, chosen family. How to put an emphasis on individuality, transparency, respect for your teammates, fun but competitive interactions with one another all while learning about the sports of cross country and track & field.

Jessica Richards has been the head cross country and head girls track & field coach at McKinney North High School since 2012. During that time, the girls and boys cross country teams have qualified for the Texas State cross country championships in 2015, including at least an individual every year since 2012. From 2017-2019, under the guidance of Coach Richards, London Culbreath won three straight cross country titles. Jessica’s track & field teams also won the 2016 and 2017 5A team championship title while earning 2018 runner-up title and 2019 third place team. Since 2014, her teams have been top 5 at the UIL state track & field championships, earning state titles in the following events: 100m, 200m, 400m, 1600m, 3200m, 4x100m relay, 4x200m relay, 4x400m relay, pole vault and earning top three performances in the 100m hurdles and long jump. During her tenure at MNHS, her teams have earned 22 state titles. In 2016, Jessica was named the Texas Track & Field coach of the year as well as UIL coach of the year. In 2017, she was named the National Federation of High School association Southwest sectional coach of the year and the USTFCCCA Texas girls track & field coach of the year. Over the 17 years in teaching and coaching, Jessica has guided 35 student-athletes to pursue college athletics. She holds a USTFCCCA technical certification as well as sprint, hurdle, relay specialist certification.

Prior to McKinney North high school, Jessica spent six years at Douglass ISD in east Texas. She led her boys and girls cross country teams to the state XC championships in 2010 and 2011 while having numerous athletes at the regional and state levels.

Jessica was a member of the Priddy cross country team that advanced to the state meet all four years of high school while finishing 4th place in 2000 in cross country and 3rd place in the 3200m in 2001. She competed for Stephen F. Austin State University from 2001-2005, earning Southland conference XC team champions in 2002 & 2003, indoor track & field champions in 2005 and outdoor track & field champions in 2003. She was an all-SLC cross country/track & field athlete while in college, lettering all four years as a steeplechaser and was a team captain in both cross country and track & field.

She lives in McKinney, Texas and is married to Joe Richards.