COACH         DUCK​

Coach Duck started his coaching career nearly thirty-years ago as a volunteer at Spalding County Parks and Recreations. He expanded his coaching tenure by joining Amateur Athletic Union (AAU). His coaching career path leaped into the school system where he was the head coach at both Taylor Street and Henderson Middle Schools before being assigned as Assistant Coach at with Jackson, Morrow, Luella, and Griffin High Schools. Coach Duck’s coaching success landed him as an Assistant Coach at Gordon State College to now being the General Manager/Head Coach of the Atlanta Aliens ABA Professional Basketball team in the American Basketball Association (ABA). He often reminds his players that everyone cannot play Division-1 college basketball, but everyone can go to college and earn a degree. Coach Duck encourage his players to set realistic goals and stress that hard-work and sacrifices are going to carry them throughout LIFE and not just a free ride to college. As a result, Coach Duck University was established January 2017 to help mode younger kids to include his youngest son Alando “Lil Duck” Richards who is only 10 years old. Since the beginning of his coaching career with the Griffin Grasshoppers, over 500 student-athletes have received scholarships; notably every senior that graduated for the past consecutive seven years have received a scholarship within his coaching tenure including his own biological children Alan “A.J.” Richards, Jr (Edward Waters College), Nala Richards (University of West Georgia) and Zalan Richards who is currently playing college at Southern Wesleyan University. He has been honored as the community “Best Positive Role Model” for today’s youths and nicknamed the “Minister of Basketball.

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Prior to coaching, Coach Duck served in the United States Marine Corps for twenty-four years where he played on the Marines Barracks 8th & I and All-Marines Basketball Teams. He attributes his tough, intense, mental and physical approach to the game to the rigorous training he received in the Marine Corps Boot Camp while at Parris Island, South Carolina. A certified Marine Scout Sniper, Coach Duck spent three years as a Presidential Body Guard for Ronald Reagan, two tours as a Marine Drill Instructor training thousands of recruits to become combat ready Marines and several tours overseas conducting combat operation missions. His tough discipline tactic on the basketball court has been very effective for all the players under his leadership. Coach Duck utilized his Marine Corps training when he worked as an Atlanta Police Officer for fifteen years before starting his career as an educator. Coach Duck is a published author, lecturer and he has coached a team in the AAU Nationals for the past fifteen consecutive years. He is a true devoted educator with a brilliant basketball mind, especially innovative ways to market and expose his players. His philosophy of life is very simple: put GOD first in all of your pursuits, follow-up with education, family and lastly sports including basketball. His philosophy of basketball is summed up in three letters, GAS which stands for Grades, Attitude and Skills. Always put the “Books Before Basketball”, keep a positive attitude everyday and then there’s no limit to what you can do as a player.

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Coach Duck earned a Master’s Degree in Criminal Justice from Saint Leo University in addition to having dual Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology and Criminal Justice. He is married to his “Best Friend” of 25 years Shalesia McCalla Richards and together they have seven children. Coach Duck Richards has a simple message:

“I am a Coach because of the kids and the passion I have for the sport of basketball itself. There is no other feeling quite like helping young athletes further develop their natural persistence, determination, discipline, dedication, resiliency, work ethic, heart, leadership skills, connection with, and respect for others, not only in competition on the basketball court but in LIFE!”

Coach Duck Richards is the Founder/Director of Coach Duck University, Griffin Grasshoppers Youth Association and CEO of the Atlanta Aliens ABA Professional Basketball Team