Hawkins Named National Rifle Association Distinguished College Coach

by
posted on March 31, 2021
** When you buy products through the links on our site, we may earn a commission that supports NRA's mission to protect, preserve and defend the Second Amendment. **
hawkins1.jpg

Delayed by the Covid-19 pandemic, the National Rifle Association has announced that Dr. Richard Hawkins, the U.S. Coast Guard Academy’s collegiate competitive shooting sports coach, is the 2020 NRA Distinguished College Coach. Now in his eighth season, Hawkins coaches both disciplines—rifle and pistol—and oversees three other shooting programs. The award was presented to him on Wednesday, March 3 on the Quarterdeck of the U.S. Coast Guard Academy’s Chase Hall Barracks with both rifle and pistol teams and coaches in attendance.

Dr. Richard Hawkins
Dr. Richard Hawkins. (Photo courtesy U.S. Coast Guard Athletics)


Coach Hawkins was selected from a national field that encompasses all collegiate rifle and pistol coaches in both National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) rifle and NRA Collegiate rifle and pistol programs. His resume, as one member of the selection committee remarked, is “stellar.” Since his arrival at the U.S. Coast Guard Academy, the Bear pistol and rifle teams have taken on a new life in their training and competition development. Of primary importance is the recruitment and development of leaders of character who can shoot competitively in both NCAA rifle and NRA pistol programs.

Under the leadership of Coach Hawkins, Coast Guard won the 2019 NRA National Collegiate Pistol Championship, boasted three Collegiate National Pistol Individual Champions and over three dozen All-Americans, and established several U.S. Coast Guard Academy team and individual records.

The U.S. Coast Guard Academy rifle team won the 2018, 2019 and 2020 Mid-Atlantic Rifle Conference (MAC) Team Championships, sweeping the top three places in both smallbore and air rifle individual competition over the past two years—as well as establishing multiple Academy records in every team event and five out of six individual events.  

While his win-loss record is impressive, Coach Hawkins’ most important impact is his holistic view of coaching. While providing the technical skill and environment for an student-athlete to reach maximum potential is important, it his belief is that the shooting program is more than that, it is a vehicle to produce a well-rounded individual, in his case a commissioned officer in the U.S. Coast Guard. To that end, he is dedicated to ensuring that his student-athletes are given all the opportunities, encouragement and support needed to excel in the academic, physical, military and athletic aspects of the high-pressure world of a federal service academy.


Read more: Kentucky Wins 2021 NCAA Rifle Championship

Latest

Uspsa Clubs 1
Uspsa Clubs 1

USPSA: Celebrating Growth, Fueling The Future

USPSA celebrates surpassing 40,000 members, with growing participation signaling a dynamic new chapter for the practical competition shooting community.

Competitors’ Corner: July 2025

Highlights from the July 2025 issue of Shooting Sports USA, the NRA’s competitive shooting journal.

All About The 2025 USA High School Clay Target League National Championship

The USA High School Clay Target League National Championship draws top shooters nationwide, showcasing skill, safety and sportsmanship.

Sierra Bullets Expands MatchKing-X Lineup With New 6 mm 107-Grain HPBT

Sierra introduces a 6 mm 107-grain HPBT bullet to its MatchKing-X series, aimed at long-range accuracy with hunting functionality.

Ruger’s New Mark IV 22/45 Lite

Ruger’s upgraded rimfire pistol delivers competition-ready performance in a sleek, lightweight design.

Colt Pro Team’s Justine & Jalise Williams Help Spark Team USA’s Gold Rush At 2025 IPSC World Shoot

Justine and Jalise Williams, representing Colt and Team USA, captured team gold and top individual finishes at the 2025 IPSC PCC/Mini Rifle World Shoot.

Interests



Get the best of Shooting Sports USA delivered to your inbox.