University of Richmond Athletics
Richmond Names Robins Center Floor Dick Tarrant Court
07/27/2015 | Men's Basketball
UNIVERSITY OF RICHMOND, Va. - Beginning with the 2015-16 season, when Spider basketball teams are victorious in the Robins Center, the triumphs will be accomplished and celebrated on a floor named for the school's all-time winningest coach.
“We are proud to honor our legendary Hall of Fame coach Dick Tarrant, and those who played for him and coached with him, in naming the Robins Center floor Dick Tarrant Court,” announced Director of Athletics Keith Gill. “Coach Tarrant not only led the program through one of its most successful eras, but he embodies Richmond Basketball. This is the perfect tribute to recognize the impact that Coach Tarrant had on the Spider community.”
Richmond is the first of the 14 NCAA Division I schools in Virginia to name its basketball court for a head coach. A ceremony honoring Coach Tarrant and christening the Dick Tarrant Court logo on the floor will be held at the season-opening men's basketball game, Friday Nov. 13 when the Spiders host long-time rival James Madison.
Tarrant's Spider teams posted a record of 239-126 (.655) during 12 seasons from 1981-1993, including an impressive 127-36 (.779) mark on the Robins Center court. Tarrant led the Spiders to eight 20-win seasons, four Colonial Athletic Association championships, five NCAA Tournament appearances and four trips to the National Invitational Tournament.
''I can't fully comprehend why so many wonderful things are happening to me---20 years after my retirement,” said Tarrant. “Coaches and athletes are normally soon forgotten at the conclusion of their careers. This tremendous tribute is often times reserved for Hall of Fame coaches such as Coach K, Lou Carnesecca and others. So, I am thankful to all those who were instrumental in this honor. I am flattered beyond words.”
Tarrant gained national notice with NCAA Tournament victories over Auburn in 1984, Indiana and Georgia Tech in 1988 on the way to Richmond's first-ever Sweet Sixteen appearance, and over Syracuse in 1991, making Richmond the first #15 seed to defeat a #2 seed in the NCAA first round.
This past season, two additional honors were bestowed upon him. The new, live Spider mascot for the men's basketball team was named “Tarrant” in an overwhelming fan vote. Coach Tarrant was also named Richmond's representative to the Atlantic 10 Conference's Legends Class of 2015, which was honored at the A-10 men's basketball tournament at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, NY.
A native of Englewood, N.J., Tarrant came to Richmond as an assistant coach in 1978, and he became head coach in 1981. He was named CAA coach of the year four times. Tarrant was inducted into the University of Richmond Athletics Hall of Fame in 1994 and the Virginia State Hall of Fame in 2013. As head coach, eleven of his former players have been inducted into the UR Athletics Hall of Fame and the 1988 Sweet 16 team was honored as the 2005-06 Team of Distinction.
Ken Atkinson (1986-1990)
- UR Hall of Fame
- Ninth on All-Time Scoring List (1,549 points)
- 1987 CAA Rookie of the Year; 1990 CAA Tournament MVP
- NBA Assistant Coach Atlanta Hawks; previously with New York Knicks
“Coach T was an outstanding coach and great teacher of the game. More importantly, he was a great leader of young men. He knew how to motivate with discipline but also applied a soft touch when needed. He had an innate ability to understand the psychology needed for each of his teams to be successful. He was a masterful communicator and would deliver his message to us in simple and humorous ways. You never went into a game unprepared. A small detail missed never went unnoticed. As a player you needed to be on your toes at all times. I never felt we were "Giant Killers.” I always thought he gave us a great chance to win no matter who we played. I am extremely proud of having had the chance to play for one of the best basketball coaches in NCAA history. Well-deserved Coach and congratulations!”
Greg Beckwith (1982-1986)
- UR Hall of Fame
- Richmond's All-Time Steals and Assists Leader
- UR Assistant Coach (1987-1989)
- Current analyst on Spider radio and television men's basketball broadcasts
“I am very pleased that Coach Tarrant will have the court named after him. It is such a well–deserved honor! He created a winning atmosphere and laid down the foundation for a successful basketball tradition at UR. He taught all of his players about self-discipline, mental toughness and hard work which led to success on and off the basketball court.”
Curtis Blair (1988-1992)
- UR Hall of Fame
- Seventh on All-Time Scoring List (1,630 points)
- 1992 CAA Player of the Year
- 2nd Round NBA Draft Pick by Houston
- Current NBA Referee (7 years)
"When you arrived at the University of Richmond as a student-athlete, you came in as a wide-eyed kid. By the time you graduated from UR in the Tarrant era, you left as a young man ready to tackle any challenges presented to you in the real world. Coach Tarrant instilled a discipline of basketball that made all of his players perform at a much higher level. This is a great honor for Coach Tarrant. We are so fortunate to call him Coach!”
John Newman (1982-1986)
- UR Hall of Fame
- Richmond's All-Time Leading Scorer (2,383 points)
- 1983 CAA Rookie of the Year; 1984 CAA Player of the Year
- 2nd Round NBA Draft Pick by Cleveland – 16 NBA seasons with Cleveland, New York, Charlotte, New Jersey, Milwaukee, Denver, Dallas
“I am proud to have been a part of Coach Tarrant's teams that were the first at Richmond to experience success at the NCAA Tournament level. At the time, I'm not sure any of us realized the impact we would have on the history of Richmond Basketball. Coach Tarrant led us, and always kept us focused on the task at hand. He and his staff put us in position to accomplish great things – on the court, in the classroom and in life. I was fortunate to enjoy a long NBA career – and am thankful it all started with Coach Tarrant and the University of Richmond. Congrats to Coach on this great recognition.”
Chris Mooney (Richmond Head Coach 2005-PRESENT)
- 2011 NCAA Sweet 16
- Back-to-back NCAA Tournament appearances and Top 25 Final National Rankings 2010, 2011
- Third on Richmond's All-Time Coaching Wins List (187-146 .562)
“I am so excited for Coach Tarrant and for all of his former players and coaches. Their achievements are remarkable as they helped to establish Richmond Basketball as a nationally-prominent program. I am forever grateful to be the coach of the Spiders – the same program that was coached by the great Dick Tarrant. Additionally, I would like to personally thank Coach Tarrant for his gracious reception of myself and my family. Congratulations Coach!”
John Beilein, UR Head Men's Basketball Coach (1998-2003; 100 wins in five seasons)
- NCAA Tournament 1998
- First round victory over South Carolina
- Current head coach University of Michigan – Final Four 2013
“Dick was a tremendous innovator of the game of basketball. He also has had a tremendous influence on my career as a basketball coach. Our Spider teams always strived to represent Richmond Basketball as Coach Tarrant's teams did. He put Richmond Basketball on the map. In my five years at Richmond, I learned so much from Dick and will always treasure those times we just talked about coaching winning basketball. His name will always be synonymous with the success of that great program. This is a well-deserved honor for Coach Tarrant, Joan, their family and all of his great Spider teams.”
Chuck Boone, Athletic Director (1977-2000)
- UR Hall of Fame
- Hired Dick Tarrant as UR head men's basketball coach in 1981
“Dick Tarrant will forever be remembered as the coach who took a struggling University of Richmond basketball program to national respectability. He put the Spiders on the map! I will never forget all the great wins in our conference as well as signature wins in the NCAA tournaments. He and his staff recruited young men who performed well not only on the court but also in the classroom. It is a fitting tribute to name the basketball court in Dick's honor, a quality coach and individual.”
Tom Yeager, Commissioner, Colonial Athletic Association (1985-PRESENT)
- Longest-tenured Division I conference commissioner
“Coach Tarrant's teams were an integral part of the success of the CAA during our early years. His teams are properly recognized as the first “Cinderella-giant killers” in the modern NCAA tournament. He developed players into championship teams that challenged and upset some of the top programs in the country, setting the standard for UR basketball. Congratulations to Coach Tarrant on this tremendous honor.”
