During Jim’s tenure at Michigan, the Wolverines had unparalleled success. His teams won an unprecedented 12 consecutive Big Ten Championships, adding two more before retiring from Michigan in 2012. Jim is the most successful Big Ten Conference Women’s Swim Coach in its history. Jim’s teams finished in the top 10 of the NCAA regularly, finishing second in 1995 and third in 1996. Richardson was one of two recipients of The Richard E. Steadman Award conferred annually to a coach who has done the most to spread happiness in swimming and diving. In 1993 and again in 1995 Jim was named NCAA Coach of the Year.