AIKEN, SC--Dana Richter has resigned as head women’s cross country coach and assistant women’s basketball coach at USC Aiken. The announcement came Wednesday morning after Richter met with University officials to notify them of her decision. Richter cited personal reasons not related to the athletic program for her departure.

“Everyone associated with our women’s cross country and women’s basketball programs will sorely miss Coach Richter,” said Randy Warrick, USCA Athletic Director. “She coached with the same intensity and drive that she displayed as a Pacer student-athlete. She has been a valuable asset to our department and we all wish her nothing but the best.”

In her two seasons at the helm of the women’s cross country program, Richter led the Lady Pacers to a pair of ninth place finishes at the Peach Belt Conference Championships. Those finishes equaled the best the program had finished since running sixth in 1993.

As the women’s basketball assistant for the past two years, Richter helped head coach Mike Brandt post a 33-27 record. Serving an a graduate assistant coach on Phil Stern’s staff, Richter was part of the Lady Pacers 2001-02 PBC Regular Season Championship and the program’s first-ever NCAA Tournament berth following a 22-6 season.

As a player, Richter was a four-year starter for the Lady Pacers accumulating 348 points and 270 rebounds. She started 78 of 96 games, ranking her tied for fifth all-time in games played and seventh in minutes played (2,276). Known as a tenacious defender, the Pittsburgh, Pa. native’s 157 career steals and 266 assists ranks fourth and third respectively all-time in both categories.

In her senior season, Richter guided the Lady Pacers to a 22-7 overall record, including a 14-2 mark in PBC play, capturing the school’s first-ever North Division title and narrowing missing the NCAA Tournament, falling in the PBC Tournament Finals to top-ranked and unbeaten Columbus State.

Richter graduated from USC Aiken in May 2001 with a Bachelor’s of Science degree in Sociology. She is currently in the finishing stages of her Master’s degree in Criminal Justice at the University of South Carolina.

No timetable has been announced for the filling of the vacant position.