After a year away from Plano ISD, Derrick Richardson returns as head coach of the Plano East girls basketball program. 

Richardson served 11 years as the Plano West assistant boys coach before holding the same position for the Panthers for two years. Last year, he took over the Blooming Grove boys basketball program, where he led the team to a postseason berth last season in his first year. Once the Plano East girls job opened up, the choice was obvious to return. 

“Plano has just become home for myself and my family,” Richardson said. “The chance to come back and be a head coach here was great, so we made the switch.” 

Richardson added that he had a ton of respect for former head coach Jessica Linson and where she set up the Plano East program. Linson left the Lady Panthers program to take over the South Oak Cliff girls basketball program. 

Plano East’s girls team had their best finish last season, going 21-4 last season and 14-0 in District 6-6A before losing in the regional finals. The Lady Panthers return 13 players to the 2021 team. 

See the full story in next week’s issue of the Murphy Monitor

By Kyle Grondin • [email protected]