Recruiting Areas: New Jersey, New England
Richard Curran enters his second season on Cortland’s coaching staff in 2022. He currently works with the team’s linebackers and is the program’s assistant strength coordinator. Curran coached the team’s defensive line in the fall of 2021 where the Red Dragons’ defense ranked fourth nationally in Division III in scoring defense (10.5 points/game), fifth in total defense (213.8 yards/game) and third in defensive touchdowns (5) on the way to winning the Empire 8 title and finishing with an 11-1 record.
Curran’s defensive line unit produced three All-Empire 8 selections, which included Nick Lardaro who was named Defensive Rookie of the Year. Lardaro, the team leader with 18 tackles for loss, also earned ECAC Division III Defensive Rookie of the Year, second team All-ECAC and second team D3football.com All-Region honors. Defensive lineman Devin Smith garnered numerous accolades as well. Smith was a first team D3football.com All-Region and third team D3football.com All-America selection and competed in the FCS National Bowl.
Curran came to Cortland from Stonehill College, where he coached the defensive line and served as video coordinator during the 2020-21 school year. In 2019, he served as an assistant coach and recruiting coordinator at Massachusetts Maritime Academy and helped develop the Buccaneers' defensive unit that ranked atop its league in scoring defense (15.6 points/game) and ranked fourth nationally in Division III for red-zone defense. Curran mentored a defensive line unit that posted 27 sacks and boasted two all-league selections, including an All-New England and All-America defensive end.
Prior to his time with Mass Maritime, Curran was an assistant coach at Red Bank Catholic High School in New Jersey for two seasons. The Caseys posted a perfect 10-0 record during the 2018 season, ranking No. 1 in the Shore Conference on its way to the Non-Public Group 3 State Championship. Curran interned with the Miami Dolphins of the National Football League during the summer of 2017, working alongside the operations department with training camp operations.
A 2017 graduate of Saint Anselm College, Curran got his coaching start as a volunteer assistant coach during the spring of his senior year. A four-year letterwinner for the Hawks, he served as captain his senior year and received his Bachelor's of Arts degree in psychology. He completed his Master of Science degree in Global Sports Business from Rutgers University in 2019.
