SHOP
MSU
 
 
 
 
  Richard Bader
Richard Bader

Player Profile
Position:
Director of Sport Operations
Experience:
1st Year

Richard Bader is in his first season as director of sport operations for the Michigan State athletic department, having previously served for nine seasons with the Spartan men's basketball program, including eight years as director of basketball operations.

In his new role, he will be assisting with sport scheduling, supporting the various sport programs, and working on coaches' professional development initiatives among other duties involved with sports operations, as well as assisting the athletic director on special projects.

Bader spent the past nine seasons with the Spartan basketball program, including serving as director of basketball operations for the past eight, handling the day-to-day operations of the program, including many of the administrative responsibilities. During his time with the basketball team, the Spartans appeared in nine NCAA Tournaments, including three Final Fours and captured two Big Ten Championships.

Prior to joining the basketball program, Bader served as head men's and women's swimming and diving coach at Michigan State. A 17-year head swimming coach at the collegiate level, Bader took over the MSU men's program in 1989. In 1993, he took over the women's team.

During his coaching tenure, Bader instructed 96 NCAA and NJCAA All-Americans. The 1997 Big Ten Women's Swimming Coach of the Year, he also held head coaching positions at Indian River Community College (1986-89) and Virginia Tech (1983-86). While at Indian River, he coached six national championship teams and was a four time recipient of the NJCAA Coach of the Year award. Besides collegiate swimming, Bader has experience on the international level with United States Swimming, having coached many athletes who have medaled on Olympic teams and other national squads.

Bader was an accomplished swimmer at Clemson University, becoming the first NCAA qualifier in school history. A four-year team MVP, Bader made four trips to the NCAA Championships during his collegiate career.

Bader's family includes his wife Kathy, daughters Christine and Kimberly and son Richard Travis. Christine graduated from Michigan State in 2008, following four years as a member of the MSU women's tennis team. She currently serves as the head women's tennis coach at Evansville.