Hall of Fame coach Mark Richt shares faith journey at MVNU’s Tragedy into Triumph event

Mark Richt thought he had everything in front of him.

Even though he wasn’t able to make it as an NFL quarterback like he originally planned, he was enjoying being an assistant coach at one of the best college football programs in the nation — Florida State. He told a full house at the Tragedy into Triumph event at Mount Vernon Nazarene University on Monday that one fateful night changed all of that.

One of the star players at Florida State was killed during a campus party. Legendary head coach Bobby Bowden spoke to the devastated team the next day and told them he didn’t know where the player is because he didn’t know his faith and that there was a guy in heaven who wanted to have a relationship.

“He (Bowden) looked over at empty seat and said, ‘That guy is gone. If that was you last night and not Pablo, do you know where you’ll spend eternity’? Richt said. “He was talking to the players and I’m in the back of the room and the holy spirit was speaking to me. I knew where I was going and it wasn’t good. Next morning I went to see coach and said I know you were talking to the players, but I need Jesus. He took Bible and read scripture with me. I received Jesus as my savior that day.

“I didn’t know for sure what happened, but I knew something changed. I had a new goal – simply try to live a life that’s pleasing to God. It’s not a simple goal, not an easy goal. I’m certainly not perfect.”

Richt was the first featured speaker at Tragedy into Triumph, a three-day event created by Wendell Brown to help people find freedom from the struggles of life. Richt, Riley Gaines and Michael Oher were the three featured speakers at this year’s event, hosted by MVNU.

The Hall of Fame coach talked about the ups and downs of his life — from being a high school star quarterback to struggles in college and the NFL to becoming a Hall of Fame coach at Georgia and the University of Miami to a heart attack and now facing life with Parkinson’s Disease.

He explained to the large crowd that he thought he was a bigshot coming out of high school to attend the University of Miami (Florida). Richt was planning on becoming the starting quarterback there, winning a Heisman Trophy and then be drafted and playing in the NFL.

At each step came setbacks. First, he didn’t win the starting quarterback job. That went to future NFL Hall of Famer Jim Kelly. Second, he didn’t get drafted by the NFL. He was signed by the Denver Broncos as a free agent, but the team traded for John Elway the next day and his dream of playing in the NFL was quickly over.

After that and losing a few odd jobs back home, he went to Florida State as a grad assistant quarterbacks coach for Bowden. That became the first step in a legendary career as a coach and as a human.

After a successful career at FSU, he became head football coach at Georgia, where he won two Southeastern Conference Championships. After 15 years there and then three at his alma mater, Richt retired. He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2023 after winning 74 percent of his games as a head coach.

Richt spoke Monday of some of his highlights as a coach and some of his lowlights. From winning SEC championships and nearly a national championship to decisions he made that he felt hurt others along the way, Richt kept the audience enthralled with his stories.

But it was the stories of the people he’s worked with and players he’s coached that Richt remember the best, especially the night he found God.

“I bet you everyone in this room took inventory (when I spoke of Pablo). There might be some in here like me who knew where they were going and it was a bad spot. I just hope and pray that tonight’s the night that you accept Jesus as your Lord and savior. I hope everybody here goes to heaven,” Richt said.