Baseball Coaches

Neale Richardson enters his ninth season as the head coach of the Baseball Bobcats.

After an NCCAA semi-final appearance in 2019, the Bobcats have been on the brink of trips to the final four the past two seasons. The Bobcats overcame a myriad of obstacles in 2022 and were just one run away from yet another semi-final appearance. Richardson’s 2022 Bobcats completed a 33-22 record and propelled the veteran coach past his 200th win at C of O. With a solid nucleus returning and post-season experience under their belts, the 2023 Bobcats look to continue their upward climb and once again, make a deep run into the post season.

Richardson’s collegiate coaching record currently stands at 204-179. Each year of his tenure, Richardson has been adding strong recruits to his team, and this year is no exception. With 30+ wins four of the last six seasons, the Bobcats look to continue building success on the diamond.

Richardson is well known in the Ozarks area, having served 19 years in the Forsyth R-III Public School system as a high school principal, assistant principal, physical education teacher, coach, and athletic director. Richardson’s on-field experience includes coaching high school baseball from 1996-2009 in Forsyth and 1985-1995 in Seymour, as well as playing at North Arkansas Community Technical College from 1980-1982. As a high school coach, Richardson compiled a successful overall record of 552-217-1 and was inducted into the Missouri High School Baseball Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 2006.

Following his retirement from Forsyth Schools in June 2014, Richardson sought to pursue his dream of coaching college baseball and is honored to lead the Bobcats. He states, “I know College of the Ozarks well and the reputation of Hard Work U. I feel that I am a perfect fit for what College of the Ozarks represents. I have strong Christian values and believe that hard work and character are what define a person. I have based my entire career on these beliefs.”

Richardson holds a Master’s degree in Educational Administration from Lindenwood University and a Bachelors and Master’s degree in Education/Physical Education from Missouri State University.

Justin McMillin is in his eighth season as Assistant Baseball Coach and Recruiting Coordinator at College of the Ozarks.

Coach McMillin brings 30 years of experience combined at the high school and collegiate level to College of the Ozarks and continues to make a positive impact on the Bobcats’ pitching staff. He has a long history with Head Coach Neale Richardson, having played for Richardson at Hillcrest High School in the late 1980’s.

Following a stellar prep career at Hillcrest High School, McMillin signed to play collegiately at then-Southwest Missouri State University. After his playing days, he began his coaching career at William Jewell College (1992-1998) as a pitching coach and recruiting coordinator under NAIA Hall of Fame coach Fred Flook. He then returned to the high school ranks and was pitching coach at Hillcrest (2000-2003), Nixa (2003-2012) and Rogersville (2013-2015). In that 15-year span, he helped guide his teams to a state championship, three final fours, four quarterfinals, seven district and seven conference championships.

At C of O, McMillin helped guide the Bobcats to the NCCAA national semifinals in 2019 and has coached five all-conference pitchers, four all-region selections and three NCCAA All-Americans. His Bobcat pitching staff led the NAIA in fewest walks per game in both 2017 and 2018.

Overall, he has worked with six hall of fame coaches and coached five pitchers who were drafted or signed by a Major League Baseball club. He was recognized in May of 2021 with a Diamond 9 Award by the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame for his “outstanding contributions to the sport of baseball.”

He has been married to his wife, Heather, for 21 years and the couple have a son, Cole and daughter, Abby.