Dot Richardson in February 2022. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)
THIS IS THE SPORTS SPECTRUM PODCAST
WITH JASON ROMANO, FEATURING DOT RICHARDSON
Dot Richardson is the softball head coach at Liberty University. She was named to her position on July 17, 2013, and since has taken the Flames to three NCAA Tournament regionals and six straight full seasons of 40 wins or more. In 2023, Liberty eliminated No. 2 UCLA and Grand Canyon to make a regional final for the third time in program history, and set the school’s single-season record for wins over top-25 teams (four).
Prior to coaching, Richardson was an elite softball player, starring in college at UCLA, where she helped the Bruins to their first-ever NCAA championship in 1982 and was named NCAA Player of the Decade for the 1980s. In 1996, she was a member the U.S. team that captured the first-ever Olympic gold medal in softball. She was also on the team that repeated four years later.
Today on the podcast, we talk to Dot Richardson about coaching at Liberty, impacting lives for the Kingdom, honoring the Lord with her words and actions, and being bold in her faith.
Matt Forte, left, and Matthew Slater, right. (Photo by Sports Spectrum)
THIS IS THE SPORTS SPECTRUM PODCAST WITH MATT FORTE, FEATURING MATTHEW SLATER
Matthew Slater played 16 seasons with the New England Patriots from 2008-23. He was a member of three Super Bowl championship teams, was selected to 10 Pro Bowls, and named a first-team All Pro two times. In 2017, he was named the Bart Starr Award winner, and in 2021 he won the Art Rooney Sportsmanship Award.
Today on the podcast, Matt Forte sits down with Matthew Slater in person to discuss growing up with a Hall of Fame football-playing father, his first year with the Patriots after retiring, growing in his relationship with Jesus, focusing on who God is, and remaining humble.
Rachel Roupe is congratulated by head coach Dot Richardson, May 18, 2025. (Photo courtesy of Liberty Athletics)
More than one type of history was made in the softball NCAA Tournament on Sunday night. With one dramatic come-from-behind win, Liberty University reached the NCAA Super Regionals for the first time in program history, and at the same time eliminated a No. 1 overall seed in the first round for the first time in the Super Regional era (starting in 2005).
After beating Marist University on Friday and top-seeded Texas A&M on Saturday, the Flames needed just one more victory over the Aggies in the double-elimination regional to secure a spot in the Super Regionals. They led 6-0, trailed 10-6 and eventually scored four runs in the seventh to send the game to extra innings, but Texas A&M prevailed, 14-11.
Hours later, the two teams met again. The winner moved on. The loser went home. Liberty fell behind 3-0 and responded with a trio of home runs from Rachel Roupe and Savannah Jessee in the fifth and sixth innings to take a 6-3 lead. With the game tied in the top of the sixth, Roupe went deep for the second time in as many innings, putting the Flames ahead for the first time.
Texas A&M scored twice in the bottom half of the inning but never led again as Liberty held on for a 6-5 victory. It marked the 50th win of the season, a new program record.
As one of the largest Christian universities in the country, faith is at the center of everything Liberty does. The first thing head coach and two-time Olympic gold medalist Dot Richardson did in her postgame press conference was give glory to God.
“First, all praise to the Lord,” she said. “Thank you. God is so faithful. When I say that, I say it because you guys saw a battle out here. … It was amazing to watch, the talent that all the players have. And that’s what the Lord says: When you have your talents, put them out there to show.”
At the Conference USA Tournament earlier this month that Liberty won to reach the NCAA Tournament, Richardson — who has been the team’s head coach since 2013 — shared a brief message before helping baptize 26 players from teams across the conference.
Richardson joined the Sports Spectrum Podcast last year and shared about the powerful series of events that led her to Liberty, as well as serving the Lord through coaching. When Richardson got a call asking her to lead the program, she had never been a head coach and didn’t know where the school was. She knew it was where she was supposed to be, though.
“I’ve been led here at Liberty … where we’re training champions for Christ,” she said on the podcast. “That is what really interests me. I knew as a young girl that God had given me a gift in athletics, and I knew it because I loved it so much, it was so natural.”
Under Richardson’s leadership, the Flames have reached the NCAA Tournament six times, and before setting the program record for wins this season, they won at least 40 games in six consecutive full seasons from 2017 to 2023. They have also won back-to-back Conference USA regular-season and tournament titles, their first two years in the conference.
Sophomore infielder JaMaya Byrum, who was standing on third base when Roupe hit her game-changing home run, was a guest on Sports Spectrum’s “What’s Up” podcast in April. Byrum discussed the role faith plays in her life and why learning about God not being a one-time Savior has made such an impact on her.
“I want to control everything,” she said on the podcast. “I want to stick to my plan and my timing and all of the things just because our hearts are so selfish. But at the end of the day, I do have to realize that it’s a blessing to be here. I don’t deserve anything. It’s just such a blessing, so I can only be thankful for where my feet are.”
Liberty begins its best-of-three Super Regional series against the University of Oregon at 10 p.m. ET on Friday. Game 2 is at 7 p.m. ET on Saturday. If needed, Game 3 will be Sunday.
However long the Flames’ run continues for, they will be giving God the praise every step of the way.
“God has given us amazing gifts and opportunities, and I just want to encourage all of us to get to know Him more,” Richardson said on the Sports Spectrum Podcast. “And the only way to do that is to get into His Word, right? To study, take the time to get closer and understand, to get your questions answered.”
Tony Dungy in December 2024. (AP Photo/Jerome Miron)
THIS IS THE SPORTS SPECTRUM PODCAST WITH MATT FORTE AND JASON ROMANO, FEATURING TONY DUNGY
Tony Dungy is a Super Bowl-winning, Pro Football Hall of Fame coach. He’s currently doing analyst work with NBC Sports’ “Sunday Night Football.”
Today on the podcast, we welcome back Tony Dungy to talk about his adoption story (12 kids!), staying connected to God, being bold in his faith, and encouraging others to share their faith as well.
Friday night had been terrible for Jesus’ followers. Their leader had been arrested and killed. They hastily buried him, leaving everyone frightened and confused. No one had expected this. After observing the Passover Mary Magdalene went with some women Sunday morning to finish… pic.twitter.com/xAXsFqK3M6
