STROUDSBURG, Pa. — Students and staff at Stroudsburg Area School District are grieving the loss of wrestling coach and athletic director Sean Richmond.
Superintendent Dr. Cosmas Curry shared this post on Facebook:
"It is with a heavy heart and my deepest sympathies to all staff, students, and our greater school community, on the loss of Sean Richmond, our Athletic/Activities Director and our head wrestling coach. I grieve along with you as we are all devastated at his untimely passing. He was an outstanding athletic director poised to take on bigger roles in our School District and District XI. His wrestlers loved him and always had students' best interests in mind. He was a great administrative teammate to me and many of you, and an even more tremendous friend. Sean’s service is most appreciated. He had a propensity for leadership in the athletics and activities department. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family and we ask you to respect their privacy at this time. In this situation, words cannot adequately define feelings and emotions, I simply ask for your support as we mourn the loss of our colleague. He will be sorely missed."
State police say Richmond was struck by a tractor-trailer Saturday night on Route 380 north while he was on his way to the district's prom at Kalahari Resort. He later died at the hospital.
"The fact that he was on his way to the prom shows you that the athletic director's role is one that is immersive in the whole school community. It's not relegated to just sports. It's a leadership role that we are asked to do a lot of things outside of the court, the fields, or the gym, so it goes to show his dedication to Stroudsburg school," said Chuck Dailey.
The loss goes much further than the Stroudsburg community.
Chuck Dailey is the Athletic Director at East Stroudsburg North. He says he spoke with Richmond almost every day.
"Sean and I are ironically both from Easton, so we've always made that connection, so we worked together closely. I'm much older than him, but he would call me a lot and ask a lot of questions as he was learning to become an athletic director," explained Dailey.
The news of Richmond's passing quickly spread through the sports community and beyond.
"You know, as athletic directors, we're a close small fraternity, and we all have different relationships with one another and things like this. You don't want to experience these, but when they come up, it brings us together and galvanizes us, and you realize how fleeting life can be. Our hearts go out to his wife, his children and it's a terrible loss for everyone," said Dailey.
State police are still investigating the crash.