High school gym named after Richardson

Former University of Arkansas head coach Nolan Richardson addresses a gathering during his enshrinement ceremony for the Basketball Hall of Fame in Springfield, Mass., Friday, Aug. 8, 2014. Richardson led Arkansas to the 1994 National Championship and to three Final Four appearances in 1990. 1994 and 1995. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)
Former University of Arkansas head coach Nolan Richardson addresses a gathering during his enshrinement ceremony for the Basketball Hall of Fame in Springfield, Mass., Friday, Aug. 8, 2014. Richardson led Arkansas to the 1994 National Championship and to three Final Four appearances in 1990. 1994 and 1995. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)

Nolan Richardson's alma mater will name its gymnasium after the Hall of Fame coach, the El Paso Independent School District voted Tuesday.

It will be the second time the district has honored the former Arkansas coach, as one of its 17 middle schools is named after him, too.

Bowie High School, where Richardson was an all-state football and basketball player, was also Richardson's first stop as a head coach.

In 10 seasons as the Bears' coach, he compiled a 190-80 record and won back-to-back state championships in 1974 and 1975.

Richardson left Bowie to take the head coaching job at Western Texas College, where he won the 1980 National Junior College championship.

The following year, he led Tulsa to the NIT championship.

He came to Arkansas in 1985 and went 389-169 in 17 seasons with the Razorbacks, including three trips to the Final Four and the 1994 National Championship.

Richardson was inducted into the College Basketball Hall of Fame in 2008 and the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2014. Arkansas honored him with a banner in Bud Walton Arena during the 2014-15 season.

Upcoming Events