Heidelberg Athletics Hall of Fame
When Connie Sanford-Richardson first stepped onto the campus of Heidelberg College the Student Princes had one of the very best athletes women's sports could offer anywhere at any level, on and off the playing surface.
A 1982 graduate of Caldwell High School, Richardson could do it all. She was a force inside the key who dominated all opponents. She was the chairwoman of the boards and destroyed opponents with her scoring talents.
Her name still appears in several Heidelberg record areas some eight years following her graduation in 1986. She holds the career scoring average of 17.7; field goal percentage for a single season at .636; career rebounding average, 12.1; rebounds in a single season, 354; tied for most points in a game with 37; and tied for most rebounds in a game at 27.
Richardson is the second all-time scorer in history with 1,691. She was a Division III Kodak All-American in 1986 and earned the Prugh Prize in Athletics that same year.
She was first team All-Ohio Athletic Conference in 1985 and 1986 while earning All-Ohio honors four seasons. In addition, she was the Most Valuable Player for Heidelberg each of her four seasons and co-captain for three years. In 1985, as a junior, she was honored as an honorable mention All-American.
Richardson also lettered in track in 1984.Richardson's talents were not surprising at Heidelberg after she made the Caldwell program one of the best after the school began it during her sophomore year. That first year Caldwell was 1-10 and when she left the program it was one of the best with an 18-4 season.
In high school she scored 1,254 career points and pulled off 693 rebounds in two seasons. She was named the Most Valuable Player three times and was captain three times. Her senior year she averaged 22.7 points and 13.6 rebounds in 65 percent from the field and 73.5 percent at the line.
Her junior year she dropped in 25 points and grabbed an average of 18.8 rebounds. She established six school records including career points; most points in a game, 41; most assists in a season, 43; most rebounds in a game, 34; free throws made in a game with 17 of 17; and most free throws in a season, 126.
Richardson was also All-Conference four years in softball at Caldwell and pitched a no-hitter. She was the MVP four seasons while also earning All-Conference three years in volleyball on the co-championship team. A.'1d just for good measurer she was a member of the State Performance Band.
After leaving Heidelberg she taught one year at Caldwell High School before moving to Capital University to serve as the assistant basketball and head softball coach.
Richardson is currently the head basketball coach at Otterbein College and Physical Education Instructor. She is organizing Girls Fundamental Camps at Otterbein and Capital and is an instructor of children basketball programs in grades 3 through 12.
(This profile appeared in the 1993 Hall of Fame Banquet program.)
