Hall of Fame
Tonight, the Coe College Athletic Hall of Fame welcomes arguably the best defensive back in Coe football history. Richard Matthews holds the single-season interception record with 10 in 1990, three of which he returned for touchdowns. He is also Coe's career interception leader with 21, interception return yardage leader with 340, and interceptions returned for touchdown leader with four. He was named to several All-American teams in 1990, 1991 and 1992, while racking up all-conference honors. He burst into the starting lineup as a sophomore and was defensive MVP of that 8-2 Midwest Conference championship team. He added another eight interceptions in 1991 as Coe repeated as conference champions and made the second NCAA playoff appearance in school history. Richard scored Coe's only points in that 75-2 drubbing by St. John's, returning a blocked point after the touchdown. He served as a team captain- and was picked as the Homecoming King - in 1992, when Coe finished 8-1. Richard was also a four-year letterwinner and team captain his senior year in track. He blazed to a first-place finish at 55 meters in 1993, helping the Kohawks to the Midwest Conference Indoor Championship. In 1992, he placed second in the event at the State Small College Championships and qualified for the Drake Relays as part of the 800-meter and sprint medley relay teams. Richard was treasurer of the Black Self-Education Organization during his time at Coe. After receiving his bachelor's in history with a minor in political science, he played semi-pro football for two years with the St. Louis Bulldogs, qualifying for the all-star team his first year. Richard is a supervisor for the U.S. Postal Service in St. Louis. He is involved with the group, Show Me Working Dogs, and offers canine training services through his business, Dem Dawgs. For his outstanding contributions to Kohawk athletics, I am honored to present my teammate, Richard Matthews, for induction into the Coe College Athletic Hall of Fame.
