End of Richards Era for Thousand Oaks

Thousand Oaks High football Coach Bob Richards, who led the Lancers to six league titles and a Southern Section championship, will not return for his 13th season, The Times has learned.

It was unclear if Richards resigned or was fired.

Richards did not return phone calls Friday night.

Thousand Oaks Athletic Director Jim O’Brien would not confirm Richards’ departure.

“It’s just in the rumor stage right now,” O’Brien said.

Junior fullback Chris McKearn, under the impression Richards won’t be back, wasn’t disappointed.

“He had some good points and some bad points,” McKearn said, “but I think he’s just been coaching too long and we need someone new with new ideas. He’s been doing the same old things. It’s getting to where everyone knows what the play is going to be. . . .

“We used to be a really good team, and we, as players, tried as hard as we could, but he puts these bogus things in. He just doesn’t want to take any risks.”

Scott McEwan, who started every game for the Lancers last season, had praise for Richards.

“I thought he was a real good coach,” McEwan said. “It’s a shock to see him leave and stuff. With his experience and everything, he really knew the game well.”

Richards coached at Thousand Oaks for 28 years, the past 12 as head coach. The Lancers won six Marmonte League championships in a row from 1985 to 1990. Thousand Oaks won the Southern Section Coastal Conference championship with a 27-10 victory over Channel Islands in 1987.

The Lancers were 10-2 in 1991, but missed the playoffs the past three years. During that time, the team had a record of 10-18-2, including 4-6 in 1994.

Richards coached in the 1988 North-South Shrine game.

He graduated from Cal State Northridge, then called San Fernando Valley State, in 1966.