Todd Richards Will Keep Head Coaching Job For Columbus Blue Jackets

It wasn't exactly a banner year for the Columbus Blue Jackets, as any year would be when you fire your head coach halfway through the season. Scott Arniel was jettisoned back on January 9, and Todd Richards took over the helm as the interim coach.

The Jackets have apparently decided that Richards is a keeper, as they've dropped the 'interim' label and given him the full on head coach position officially, according to the Columbus Dispatch.

Richards, who took over when Scott Arniel was fired on Jan. 9, will have the "interim" tag lifted from his title later today, The Dispatch has learned. He has signed a two-year contract, the financial terms of which were not immediately available.

Under Richards, the Jackets were far improved in the later stages of the season with some big wins in March capping off their season well despite the incredibly slow start; their record under him was 18-21-2. Richards is the sixth full time head coach in the short but turbulent history of the team.

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