Andy Richman was chosen as EKU’s offensive coordinator and running backs coach in January 2020.
The Colonels returned to the FCS Playoffs for the 23rd time in program history in 2024, the second-most in the NCAA all-time with an 8-5 overall record, finishing in both FCS top-25 polls.
Five of those eight wins came in a winning streak to end the regular season, including two over then nationally ranked teams in the UAC in Tarleton State and Central Arkansas.
The Colonels also went a perfect 6-0 at CG Bank Field at Roy Kidd Stadium, the first undefeated season at home since 2010.
It was a stellar season on the ground for the Colonels in 2024 as running back Joshua Carter eclipsed 1,000 rushing yards this season and 2,000 rushing yards in a career, becoming the 17th and 18th individual to accomplish those feats at EKU.
Additionally, Carter recorded three consecutive game-winning touchdowns in EKU’s wins over No. 7 Tarleton St., No. 16 Central Arkansas, and Austin Peay.
In the final win over Austin Peay, Carter saved his best for last with a thrilling walk-off winner in overtime, breaking through multiple APSU defenders on a 23-yard touchdown run on the second play of EKU's overtime possession, lifting the Colonels to a 30-27 win.
EKU also found a star in the passing game with Freshman All-American, Marcus Calwise Jr. as the freshman from Covington, Ga. stepped up in a big way in 2024 for the Colonels’ offense being the top target for quarterback Matt Morrissey as EKU finished 8-4 in the regular season, going 6-2 in UAC play.
The first year wide out posted five touchdown receptions and 526 yards on 42 receptions, averaging 12.5 yards per catch.
Recording at least one reception in all but one game in 2024, Calwise got hot at the end of the season, scoring a touchdown in EKU’s last four games, including an 11-yard reception for six in the FCS Playoffs.
Calwise posted a career-best performance in the last week of the regular season with 99 yards on five receptions and one touchdown against North Alabama. His score proved to be the game winner in the fourth quarter as on third-and-14 from his own 33, quarterback Matt Morrissey found Calwise over the middle for the catch and sprint to the end zone for a 67-yard touchdown, reclaiming the lead at 21-15 with 8:10 remaining in regulation.
The performance earned him his second consecutive Freshman of the Week honor in the UAC and third overall of the season, tied for the most in the conference.
2024 also marked the end of an era, with it being the final season for long-time offensive linemen John Stone, Vincent Munlin Jr., and Payton Collins.
Collins set a new program record in 2024 with 56 consecutive career starts before signing with the Saskatchewan Roughriders of the CFL as Munlin signed with the Montreal Allouettes.
The 2023 season saw the Colonels post the total offense numbers in the UAC averaging 437.4 yards per game with a total of 4,811 yards on the season.
On the ground, EKU running backs tallied 1,778 total rushing yards and 17 touchdowns on 347 attempts. Both marks were the highest in Richman's time at EKU.
The offense posted its best overall statistical game against new conference foe, Utah Tech posting 496 yards of total offense with Parker McKinney throwing for three touchdowns and 322 yards going 22-of-34 through the air in a 34-30 win.
WR Mo Edwards Jr., tallied 101 yards receiving on just three receptions including a 69-yard catch and run for a touchdown.
On the ground, running back Joshua Carter led the team rushing for 125 yards and one touchdown on 20 carries.
The offense featured four UAC First Team All-Conference selections in quarterback Parker McKinney, tight end Hunter Brown, and offensive linemen Payton Collins and Josiah Ezirim.
Ezirim collected four separate All-American selections after a stellar season up front before being drafted in the 2024 NFL Draft by the New Orleans Saints in the seventh round.
In his third season at EKU, the Colonels ranked third in the nation in passing offense, fifth in third-down conversion percentage, eight in completion percentage, 10th in total offense, 11th in scoring offense and team passing efficiency, and 18th in red-zone offense. EKU set a school record with 434 points scored, posting at least 40 points in six games, and quarterback Parker McKinney broke every school single-season and career passing record.
McKinney, offensive lineman Payton Collins, and running back Braedon Sloan each earned All-American honors. Sloan became the first Colonel in at least two decades to record 500 yards rushing and 500 yards receiving in a single season.
In 2021, Eastern Kentucky boasted the fourth-best red-zone offense in the country, scoring on 31 of its 33 trips (93.9 percent) inside in the red zone. EKU scored 30 points in six different games and McKinney set a school record with 229 pass completions.
Running back Da'Joun Hewitt was named ASUN Freshman of the Week three times during the 2021 season and also earned ASUN Offensive Player of the Week honors after rushing for three touchdowns in the season opener against Western Carolina.
In his first season, Richman led an offense that concluded the fall third in the nation in passing offense (247.4 yards per game) and fourth in the country in total offense (376.4 yards per game). The Colonels ran up a season-high 590 yards of offense against Western Carolina in the 2020 Opportunity Bowl. The unit totaled 400 yards or more of offense in six of the final seven games of the season.
Three offensive players – quarterback Parker McKinney, wide receiver Keyion Dixon and running back Alonzo Booth – were each chosen as the national player of the week during the 2020 season. Booth led the nation in rushing yards and rushing touchdowns during the fall. Dixon was third in the country in receiving yards and fourth in receiving touchdowns. McKinney was among the nation’s passing leaders for much of the season before missing the final three and a half games due to an injury. He still ranked fourth in passing touchdowns.
Receivers Jacquez Jones (4th) and Jackson Beerman (6th) also ranked among the national leaders in receiving yards.
Richman utilized three different starting quarterbacks during the 2020 season. McKinney started the first six games but suffered a season-ending injury just before halftime against No. 11 Central Arkansas. Dakota Allen came on and led the team on a last minute, game-winning touchdown drive to beat the nationally ranked Bears. Allen would start the next two games. Isaiah Velz was called on to make his first collegiate start in the season finale. He threw for 310 yards while leading EKU to a 49-17 win in the Opportunity Bowl.
“It’s great to have Andy back to leading our offense here at EKU,” head coach Walt Wells said. “He has done a great job since he left at all his stops, including Wisconsin, at Valdosta State where he called the plays for a national championship team, and helping New Mexico State to their first bowl game in a long time as the run game coordinator and offensive line coach. I’ve known Andy for a long time. He’s a great coach and is doing great things with our offense.”
Richman was the offensive line coach and run game coordinator at New Mexico State University from 2015 through the 2019 season. He coached a Sunbelt Conference Newcomer of the Year and an Associated Press All-America running back. In 2017, the Aggies’ offense ranked sixth in the nation in passing offense while winning seven games and earning a victory in the Arizona Bowl. It was NMSU’s first bowl appearance since 1960.
From 2011 through the 2014 season, Richman served on the staff at Valdosta State University. He was the offensive line coach and run game coordinator during the 2012 season and the offensive coordinator in 2013, 2014 and 2015. Richman tutored six first team all-conference linemen, four All-America offensive linemen selections and a fourth round NFL Draft pick. VSU had two 1,000-yard rushers in 2012 on its way to winning the Division II National Championship.
Richman was an offensive line quality control assistant for the Wisconsin Badgers from 2008 to 2010. He helped Wisconsin reach three bowl games including the 2011 Rose Bowl after winning the Big Ten Championship. Richman was an offensive line assistant, working primarily with the centers and guards, at Louisiana during the 2007 season.
Richman worked with EKU Head Coach Walt Wells at Western Kentucky University during the 2006 season, serving as the tight ends coach. He also coached the defensive line at Denison University (2005), and running backs and tight ends at Reedley College (2004).
During the 2002 and 2003 seasons, Richman was graduate student assistant at Eastern Kentucky, working with the tight ends in 2002 and the defensive line in 2003.
Richman was the offensive line coach at his alma mater, Wisconsin-Stevens Point, in 2001. He was part of two conference championships and one playoff team during his collegiate career (1996-99). He earned a physical education degree from Wisconsin-Stevens Point in 2002. Richman completed a master’s degree in sport administration at EKU in 2004.
Richman is married to the former Heather Proctor.
