Bio

Hannah Richter enters her second season as head coach of Emmaus Women's Volleyball in 2023-24.

Why become an Emmaus Eagles student-athlete?

We strive to glorify God in all that we are doing- practicing, playing, taking care of our minds & bodies well, etc.  Being on a team with supportive and like-minded girls will challenge and help you grow as a Godly woman, and be a great testimony to others about the ways that Jesus can change our lives, both in sport and outside of the gym. Something that is really important to Coach Pitman and I is building solid, genuine relationships with the players. At the end of the day, we hope to shine the light of Jesus, and show our girls how much we care for them.

Why are you coaching at Emmaus?

Coaching at Emmaus is something that came to me at a time when I wasn’t sure if I wanted to coach or not.  We had just moved back from California, and Nora was only 3 months old.  I was a new mom, and we were getting reacquainted with being back in Dubuque. This was all God.

Coaching at Emmaus fills me because I get to do what I love, coach, but I also get the special opportunity to pour into young women at a crucial time in their lives. Being with college-aged women has been so fun. I have deep and real conversations with them about their lives, their futures, and what their dreams are. I love giving my testimony to them about meeting Jesus, and living a life for Him that I would not have expected. Being married at 21 and being a stay-at-home mom with two children by 25 was definitely not in my plan! Being in relationship with the girls, but also all of the other coaches has been a huge blessing to me and my family. Emmaus has restored my love for volleyball and coaching, and will always be special to me.

What is a meaningful Bible verse to you?

Psalm 23:1 - "The Lord is my shepherd; I have all that I need."

I love this verse and come back to it frequently. It is so easy for me to get discontent. I struggle some days being home with the girls when the tantrums are high, and I struggle other times with thinking the grass is greener with pretty much anything. Am I the only one who feels these things? I come back to this because I think it is so simply and beautifully put in saying “I have all that I need”. I pray and reflect, and really have to remind myself- If I lost everything, or even yet GAINED everything, I still and always will have Christ. He is what fills me. He is what I need, and we are to rely on the Lord daily those feelings of peace and content. Thank you Lord.

Coaching Experience:

• Assistant Coach
  • Emmaus Bible College, 2018-Present
• Club/High School Coach
  • Head Coach: Riverside Preparatory High School, 2017-2018
  • Head Coach: Rage Volleyball Club 14u, 2016-2017
  • Head Coach: Razor Volleyball Club, 2015-2016
  • Head Coach: Club DSH, 14u. 2014-2015
  • Assistant Coach: Razor Volleyball Club, 2012-2013

Team Highlights:

• NCCAA National Tournament appearance (#4 national ranking) - 2018
• MCCC Regular Season Championship - 2018

Player Highlights: 

• NCCAA DII National Player of the Year - 2018
• NCCAA North Region Player of the Year – 2018
• 2 - AVCA All-Americans 
• 2 - NCCAA All-Americans 
• 2 - MCCC Most Valuable Players 
• 3 - MCCC First Team All-Conference
• 4 - NCCAA Scholar Athletes

Playing Experience:

• University of Dubuque Women's Volleyball, 2013-15 (3 years) 
  • Captain, 2014-2015

Personal:

• Spouse: Reggie Richter
• Children names: Nora & Ruby
• Employer: Stay at home mom
• Home church: Hope Church
• College/s attended: University of Dubuque
• Degree/s earned: Bachelor’s of Wellness & Exercise Science
• Church/Community involvements:
  • I serve every month in our toddler room at Hope Church, and was employed as the Early Family Ministries Assistant from summer 2019-Fall 2020.

Full Bio:

Hannah Richter is in her second season as the women’s head volleyball coach at Emmaus.

Coach Richter was instrumental in the Lady Eagles success in 2018, a year which saw Emmaus win the MCCC Regular season and tournament championships, as well as earn a bid to the NCCAA National Tournament in Greenville, SC.

Coach Richter believes in cultivating a fun and positive gym environment and in building strong relationships with her players. She is excited to be part of a team and athletic program that encourages student athletes to have a servant heart for the Lord.

Prior to Emmaus, Richter earned her first head high school coaching assignment with the varsity team at Riverside Prep (Oro Grande, CA) in 2017. Hannah was also involved with the USA Volleyball club system, where she took Rage Volleyball Club (Dubuque, IA) to their first Iowa Regional Tournament appearance in 2016. In 2015, Coach Richter coached with Razor Volleyball Club (Dubuque, IA), leading her team to their first appearances in championship bracket play at numerous tournaments.

Richter played her college ball with the University of Dubuque Spartans (NCAA DIII), where she was a setter (2013-2015). Her high school career was spent at Edgewood-Colesburg High (Edgewood, IA), and also included four years of club volleyball.

Hannah resides in Dubuque with her husband Reggie, who serves as the Volunteer Strength and Conditioning Coach for the Lady Eagles. Their daughter Nora was born in May of 2018.