Overview:
• Coach Eric Richards has been positively impacting students' lives at Bond Hill Academy.
• He teaches core values, prepares students for high school, and celebrates their successes.
• At 19, he brings his track experience to mentor young athletes and has helped students obtain track scholarships.
• Richards sees this opportunity as a way to give back and share his life experience as a young coach.
Contributed
BOND HILL — Coach Eric Richards has been making an impact at Bond Hill Academy as he has been a huge help impacting students lives for the past few months he has been coaching track and field and also as a substitute teacher at the elementary school.
Coach Eric has been teaching 4-6 core values of life and getting the students prepared for high school and the next few years.
“I really enjoyed teaching and coaching the younger group, like the K-6th graders. Those guys have so much energy to learn about life and sports. I believe I can get through to them while they are young, and it would be easy for them to adapt to high school when the time comes.
Woodward student Marciano Winn, who was a student last year, has obtained a track scholarship to Notre Dame University. Photo provided 
Christopher Barlow, who has graduated, has been a two-time gold medalist in the 400m and 200 meter. Photo provided 
Davion Yarborough, with coach Eric Richards, recently graduated from the sixth grade at Bond Hill Academy and plans on running track in college. He placed third in the 200m dash at the Taft High School Invitational. Photo provided 
Photo provided 
Woodward student Marciano Winn, who was a student last year, has obtained a track scholarship to Notre Dame University. Photo provided 
Members of the Bond Hill Academy Track Team are, from left, Carlita Harper, Saymya Compton, Davion Yarborough and Christopher Barlow. Photo provided 
The Bond Hill Academy Track Team with Coach Eric Richards seated. Photo provided
“I would like to congratulate the young ladies and gentlemen in the sixth grade class of 2024 at Bond Hill. It has been an honor to be able to make a difference in each of your lives. Remember to continue to make great choices during your road to success. I always tell them, ‘May your scholarship, leadership and service be always with you.’”
Eric Richards, 19, is a sports administration major at the University of Cincinnati who was recently hired as track coach at Bond Hill Academy.
“I am extremely excited about the opportunity that I have and want to share some of my life experience. I began running track at the age of 10 in Cleveland, and I come from a family of track athletes. As a young coach, I have an opportunity to give back and share the many lessons and skills that I have gained over the years,” he said.
Richards also coached at Woodward High School last year. He had state qualifier District champ and regional runner-up in the long jump and high. This year, he had a District champ in the high jump also a runner-up in long jump in 2024. He also helped Woodward student Marciano Winn who was a student last year obtain a track scholarship to Notre Dame University. This year he coached District champ in the high jump and a runner-up in long jump in 2024