Kenley Richardson is being inducted into the Monett Athletics Hall of Fame. He was a lifelong Monett Cub through and through. Born in 1908 in Monett, he attended Monett Schools and the Monett High School, where he made a significant impact as an athlete. During his high school years, Kenley earned letters in nine different sports, showcasing his versatility and commitment to athletics from an early age.
Richardson attended Drury College on a football scholarship, where he played on the college's last football team, serving as the captain for its final game. At Drury, he earned letters in football, basketball, and track. Due to the economic challenges of the Great Depression, Kenley Richardson had to spend his sophomore year at the Monett Junior College. He later returned to Drury College to complete his athletic career, where he excelled in football, earning All-Conference honors as both a center and guard.
Kenley Richardson had an opportunity to play professional football for the Louisville Bourbons, but an injury forced him to give up his professional career.
He began his coaching career in 1934 as a basketball coach in Diamond, Missouri. Over the next ten years, before returning to Monett, he also coached at Clever and Strafford, where his teams achieved remarkable success, winning over 250 basketball games.
Richardson returned to Monett in 1944 to take on his dream job as the head coach of the Monett Cubs. He was hired to lead Monett High School's football, basketball, track, and baseball teams. Remarkably, he coached all four sports without an assistant for the first eight years until Ralph Scott became his first assistant coach.
He played a pivotal role in introducing the "T" formation to football in southwest Missouri, effectively bringing "power football" to Monett. Under his leadership, the 1950 Monett Cubs football team dominated the field, averaging 35 points per game while holding their opponents to just 4 points on average. The team also achieved nearly 400 yards of total offense per game. Many regarded the 1950 Monett Cubs as the best high school football team in the state of Missouri, especially after their impressive 30-point victories over much larger schools, including the Jefferson City Jays and the Springfield Central Bulldogs.
As the football coach at Monett, Kenley Richardson led his teams to three undefeated conference championships and shared the conference title in another year, with several second-place finishes. In basketball, his teams won multiple tournaments, shared the conference title twice, and consistently remained strong contenders throughout his coaching career. Coach Richardson's strategic mindset and unique motivational techniques, such as using music to inspire his players and employing psychology to draw out their best performances, contributed significantly to his many victories. He was often described as a "Builder of men," reflecting the profound impact he had on his players both on and off the field.
When Kenley stepped down from coaching in 1956, he was appointed as the Athletic Director for Monett High School, becoming the first person to hold this position in the Big 9 Conference.
As the new Athletic Director, Coach Richardson took the initiative to establish the junior high football and basketball programs, where he took on the roles of both coach and manager for these teams. The first group of seventh and eighth graders he mentored went on to achieve significant success; in the 1961-1962 school year, they tied for second place in Big 9 Football and won the Big 9 Basketball championship with an undefeated record—a feat that has not been matched since. The following year, the same group tied for second place in Big 9 Basketball, further demonstrating the lasting impact of his coaching.
In his later years, Coach Richardson remained deeply involved in managing the various sports programs at Monett High School. He took on the role of coaching the golf team during his final years, leading the 1972 team to the state tournament. After a remarkable 30-year career as a teacher, coach, and athletic director at Monett High School, Richardson retired in 1974. His legacy is marked by his commitment to excellence and deep commitment to the Monett community. With a football coaching record of 78 wins, 35 losses, and seven ties, along with numerous victories in basketball, his skill and passion for coaching were evident. The Monett Times even dedicated an issue to him in 1956, underscoring his significant impact on the school's athletic programs. Kenley Richardson's induction into the Monett R-1 Athletics Hall of Fame is a fitting tribute to a coach who left an indelible mark in Monett Athletics throughout his hard work, dedication, and innovative coaching methods.