Karsen Richard plans to teach math in middle school starting in the fall. His experience with inspirational teachers means he will walk into the classroom with goals beyond the subject matter. 

Balancing life as a student-athlete and education major is difficult because of the time demands of both. Richard, a senior pitcher from Little Rock majoring in mathematics education, will spend an extra semester at Wichita State University to reach his goal of helping students.  

Throughout his classes, travels and baseball practices, two people who helped him served as role models. 

Kathy Holland teaches math at Little Rock’s Central Arkansas Christian School. She is the reason Richard wants to teach. Her influence, and that of pitching instructor Dwight Turpin, shaped Richard’s desire to be a positive force for young people. 

“They showed me I could really be the bright spot in their life,” Richard said. “(Holland) was so welcoming, made you motivated and wanting to be in class. You really can change the entire course of their day, week, month, life based on how you interact with them.” 

On Tuesday, the American Conference presented Richard with a Dr. Pepper Go Teach Award and a check for $12,500. The program recognizes athletes who want to teach.

While at Crowder (Missouri) College, he interviewed Holland for a class assignment. 

“I told her I wanted to teach because of her,” he said.  

Richard, a member of the American Conference All-Academic team in 2025, also wants to coach baseball. He personalized his glove with Turpin’s name this spring. Turpin, who died in 2016, pitched in the minor leagues for the Los Angeles Angels. 

“No matter what I was going through, he would have a huge smile on his face,” Richard said. “He would make it all about me and making sure I was OK.” 

Richard completes his baseball eligibility this spring and will complete the student-teaching portion of his degree in the fall in Wichita.  

He plans to work as a substitute teacher in the spring while Claire, his wife, works as an athletic trainer for the Shocker baseball team while she completes her Master of Science in athletic training. 

The Shockers play Florida Atlantic at noon Wednesday in the American Championship in Clearwater, Florida. 

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Wichita State University is Kansas' only urban public research university, enrolling more than 25,000 students between its main campus and the WSU Campus of Applied Sciences and Technology (WSU Tech), including students from every state in the U.S. and more than 100 countries. Wichita State and WSU Tech are recognized for being student-centered and innovation-driven.

Located in the largest city in the state with one of the highest concentrations in the United States of jobs involving science, technology, engineering and math (STEM), Wichita State University provides uniquely distinctive and innovative pathways of applied learning, applied research and career opportunities for all of our students. The National Science Foundation ranked WSU No. 1 in the nation for aerospace engineering R&D, No. 2 for industry- and defense-funded engineering R&D and No. 9 overall for engineering R&D.

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