ROCKINGHAM - Continuing its Top 10 sports story countdown from the 2017-2018 school year, the ROSports deparment brings the second installment by highlighting one of former Richmond Senior High School’s head soccer coach Bennie Howard’s many career accolades.
This past spring, Howard wrapped up his 30th year of coaching, and his 54th consecutive season at the head of Richmond’s soccer program. Taking over the Raiders boys soccer team in the fall of 1988, Howard has spent the last three decades developing not only his male players, but added the Lady Raiders program in the spring of 1994.
As he officially retired from Richmond County Schools at the close of this school year, Howard has been one of, if not the longest, tenured coaches, in RSHS’ history. And it’s been one for the books.
Most recognizable by his big grin on the sideline, Howard kicked off his final year-long campaign by eclipsing the 500-win mark during the Raiders’ season in the fall. It just so happened to come on senior night against one of Richmond’s most heated rivals, Scotland High School. The 8-3 victory in the regular season finale helped the Raiders get a No. 5 seed entering the Sandhills Athletic Conference tournament, which they used to go on to upset No. 4 Hoke County before being eliminated by Pinecrest High School.
In another Richmond Observer article, ROSports chronicled Howard’s distinguished career. With retirement now a reality, Howard tallied a 518-431-75 overall record between both programs. In the 30 years with the Raiders, he notched a 289-215-45 record, with his final win coming over longtime fellow coach Colin McDavid and Hoke County. During the spring season, Howard led the Lady Raiders to a program-best 17 wins in a single season, and wasn’t far behind with a 229-216-30 record in 24 years.
The ROSports department wishes Coach Howard a happy retirement and thank him for his cooperation over the past school year.
Below is the original match story, written by sports contributor Matt Harrelson on Oct. 19, 2017:
ROCKINGHAM - On Wednesday night, all senior players on the Richmond Raiders boys soccer team were celebrated before playing their final regular season game. They're not the only ones, however, as head coach Bennie Howard will be calling it quits at the end of the school year.
The 13 seniors walked between their younger teammates with different members of their families out to midfield. Howard and assistant coach Chris Larsen handed each player a Raider green and gold soccer flag with each individual player's number on it. Howard was also given a round of applause by the crowd with this being his final regular season game of his Raider boys soccer coaching career.
According to Richmond Senior High School's records, before the game started Howard's total win-loss record stood at 499-424-75. And even more, it was his 999th career game, and he was able to secure win number 500.
During the game, the scoring was fast and furious. Senior Victor Lucero scored four goals on the night, including Richmond's first three of the game. Junior Carlos Alcocer chipped in with a goal right before halftime, and then senior Brett Baucom added two goals of his own in the second half. Keeping with the senior offense, midfielder Patrick Hamilton scored to bring the Raiders total to eight.
"Scotland is a quality team, they've got some key players," said Howard after the game. "We knew coming in that we wanted to get this win tonight for several reasons. One, to maybe give us a little jump-start going into the conference tournament, and there was stuff on the line tonight for that 500th win."
Richmond will now move on to face Hoke County High School in the first round of the Sandhills Athletic Conference tournament on Monday, and Howard said the best strategy is just go out and play.
"We played Hoke strong both times (during the regular season)," the Howard said. "I've always said it's hard to beat somebody three times so we'll see what happens Monday night."
As for Howard himself, former players during the coach's 30-year career gathered on the field during halftime and athletic director Ricky Young presented him with a special plaque.
"A lot of individuals help get that so it's not just me," Howard said Wednesday night. "It's the 600-plus players that I've coached over those years with the boys."
Note: The No. 8 top sports story from this past school year will be released in Thursday’s edition.
