Western New Mexico Women's Basketball Camps

Assistant Coach | Richie Willis

Willis comes to WNMU after one year at DII Art of the Academy in San Francisco, CA. He helped guide the Urban Knights to a program's best season in the last six years, returning to the NCAA Tournament after finishing third in the Pacific West Conference regular season standings and reaching the PacWest Championship Tournament title game.

Alongside his work, Willis served as the varsity girls basketball head coach at Cactus Shadows High School from 2012 to 2021. During his tenure, he compiled a 163-88 overall record, with the Falcons going undefeated in league play on four occasions.

Willis was also the director and head coach of the 16U Division of the 602 Lady Nation Basketball Club since 2016. Willis was responsible for the running program including: practices, development, community service projects, and  administrative duties. Under his leadership, Lady Nation went 12-5 in the All-Star Girls Report circuit competition in the 2020 summer and had nine players pursue collegiate basketball careers.

Before Willis started his career in coaching, he was a four-year starter and three-time Frontier All-First Team basketball player who led the team in assists and steals in three of four seasons at Montana State University-Northern. Willis earned his bachelor's degree in Business Technology and an associate degree in Physical Education/Secondary Education from MSUN in 1990.

In Willis's free time, he enjoys watching movies,m listening to music and playing golf. Willis is married to Jennifer Willis, and has three kids; Isaiah who is 13, Maya who is 11, and Elijah who is 9.