{{short description|American soccer player|bot=PearBOT 5}} {{Infobox football biography | name = Richard Ballard | image = CINvLOU 2017-05-31 - Richard Ballard (34926340581) (cropped).jpg | caption = Ballard with Louisville City in 2017 | fullname = | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1994|1|26|df=y}} | birth_place = Louisville, Kentucky, United States | height = {{convert|1.78|m|abbr=on}} | currentclub = | clubnumber = | position = Midfielder, Forward | youthyears1 = –2011 | youthclubs1 = duPont Manual Crimsons | collegeyears1 = 2012–2016 | college1 = Indiana Hoosiers | collegecaps1 = 64 | collegegoals1 = 5 | years1 = 2013–2014 | clubs1 = River City Rovers | caps1 = 17 | goals1 = 2 | years2 = 2017–2019 | clubs2 = Louisville City | caps2 = 33 | goals2 = 4 | years3 = 2021–2022 | clubs3 = Miami FC | caps3 = 32 | goals3 = 0 | years4 = 2023 | clubs4 = Detroit City | caps4 = 24 | goals4 = 0 | years5 = 2024 | clubs5 = One Knoxville | caps5 = 15 | goals5 = 0 | pcupdate = November 22, 2024 }}
'''Richard Ballard''' (born January 26, 1994) is an American soccer player who plays as a forward.
==Early life== ===Personal=== Ballard was born in Louisville, Kentucky to John and Debi Ballard, and attended high school at duPont Manual High School.<ref Name="College Profile">{{cite web|url=http://iuhoosiers.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=3301|title=Richard Ballard|first=|last=|website=iuhoosiers.com|publisher=IU|year=2016|access-date=March 14, 2018|quote=|location=Bloomington, IN }}</ref> While at Manual he played three years of varsity soccer. As a senior he scored 21 goals with 24 assists while leading Manual to the district 12 title and be named to both the All-District and All-State First teams.<ref Name="SignsWithLouisvilleCity">{{cite web|url=https://www.louisvillecityfc.com/news_article/show/754126-loucity-signs-louisville-native-iu-product-ballard-for-2017-season|title=LouCity Signs Louisville Native, IU Product Ballard for 2017 Season|first=Jonathan|last=Lintner|website=www.louisvillecityfc.com|publisher=LCFC|date=February 6, 2017|access-date=March 19, 2018|quote=|location=Louisville, KY|archive-date=February 12, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170212171211/http://www.louisvillecityfc.com/news_article/show/754126-loucity-signs-louisville-native-iu-product-ballard-for-2017-season|url-status=dead}}</ref>
===College and youth=== Ballard played four years of college soccer at Indiana University between 2012 and 2016, including a red-shirted year in 2013. During his freshman year Ballard appeared in 13 matches, starting four, and was named to the Big Ten Conference All Freshman team.<ref Name="College Profile" /> Ballard and Indiana won the 2012 NCAA Division I Men's Soccer Championship.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/colleges/indiana-defeats-georgetown-in-college-cup-final/2012/12/09/d1fcb896-4243-11e2-8e70-e1993528222d_story.html|title=Indiana defeats Georgetown in College Cup final|first=Steven|last=Goff|work=Washington Post|date=December 9, 2012|access-date=March 19, 2018|quote=|location=Hoover, AL }}</ref> Over the next two seasons he appear in 30 matches for Indiana scoring one goal as a junior. As a senior he started all 21 of Indiana's matches with four goals and 2 assists while being named to the All-Big Ten second team.<ref Name="College Profile" />
While at college, Ballard appeared for Premier Development League side River City Rovers in 2012 and 2013.<ref name='ROYFinalist'>{{cite web|url=https://www.uslsoccer.com/news_article/show/854360|title=Local Boy Ballard Brings Boost for Louisville |first=Chris|last=Hockman|website=www.uslsoccer.com|publisher=USL|date=November 11, 2017|access-date=March 19, 2018|quote=|location=Louisville, KY }}</ref>
==Club career== ===Louisville City=== ====2017 season==== Ballard signed with United Soccer League side Louisville City on February 6<ref Name="SignsWithLouisvilleCity"/> and made his professional debut on March 25 against Saint Louis.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.louisvillecityfc.com/news_article/show/773990-loucity-dominates-but-draws-with-saint-louis-fc|title=LouCity Dominates, But Draws, with Saint Louis FC|first=Jonathan|last=Lintner|website=www.louisvillecityfc.com|publisher=LCFC|date=March 25, 2017|access-date=March 19, 2018|quote=|location=Louisville, KY|archive-date=March 20, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180320044919/https://www.louisvillecityfc.com/news_article/show/773990-loucity-dominates-but-draws-with-saint-louis-fc|url-status=dead}}</ref> He appeared in 25 of Louisville's 32 league matches, being used primarily as a substitute, scoring three goals. He also appeared in both of Louisville's US Open Cup matches, scoring one goal as well as all four of Louisville' USL Cup Playoff matches. Although he didn't score in regulation time during any of the USL Cup matches, he converted the final shot of the Penalty shoot-out in the Eastern Conference final against New York Red Bulls II.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.courier-journal.com/story/sports/soccer/louisville-city-fc/2017/11/04/louisville-city-fc-beats-new-york-penalties-advance-usl-cup-championship/817864001/|title=Louisville City FC beats New York in penalties to advance to USL Cup championship|first=Danielle|last=Lerner|website=www.courier-journal.com|publisher=Louisville Courier Journal|date=November 4, 2017 |access-date=March 19, 2018|quote=|location=Louisville, KY }}</ref> Ballard and Louisville won the USL Cup Final against Swope Park<ref name='2017TitleMatch' /> with Ballard being named a finalist for USL Rookie of the Year.<ref name='ROYFinalist' />
====2018 season==== Ballard had his contract renewed with Louisville<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.louisvillecityfc.com/news_article/show/857889|title=Louisville City FC Announces Roster Changes|first=|last=|website=www.louisvillecityfc.com|publisher=LCFC|date=November 17, 2017|access-date=March 29, 2018|quote=|location=Louisville, KY|archive-date=December 8, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171208122629/http://www.louisvillecityfc.com/news_article/show/857889|url-status=dead}}</ref> and he made his season debut on March 17 against USL expansion side Nashville SC.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.tennessean.com/story/sports/2018/03/17/nashville-sc-opens-inaugural-usl-season-loss-louisville-city-fc/435184002/|title=Nashville SC opens inaugural USL season with loss at Louisville City FC|first=Erik|last=Bacharach|website=www.tennessean.com|publisher=Tennessean|date=March 17, 2018|access-date=April 16, 2018|quote=|location=Louisville, KY}}</ref> In early April Ballard suffered a stress fracture causing him to miss significant time.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.louisvillecityfc.com/news_article/show/907433?referrer_id=2681618-news-archive|title=What to Know: #LOUVRIC|first=|last=|website=www.louisvillecityfc.com|publisher=LCFC|date=April 13, 2018|access-date=May 17, 2018|quote=OUT - Richard Ballard (stress fracture, out for foreseeable future)|location=Louisville, KY|archive-date=May 18, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180518131028/https://www.louisvillecityfc.com/news_article/show/907433?referrer_id=2681618-news-archive|url-status=dead}}</ref> He finished the year making only four appearances across Louisville's 34 league matches without scoring a goal. Although he didn't make an appearance in any of Louisville's four USL Cup playoff matches Ballard and Louisville went on to win the USL Cup Final against Phoenix.<ref name='2018TitleMatch' />
===Miami FC=== On January 14, 2021, following a year off from competitive play, Ballard signed with USL Championship side Miami FC.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Communications |first1=Miami FC |title=Miami FC Add Dangerous Attacking Duo Ahead of 2021 Season |url=https://www.miamifc.com/news_article/show/1140703 |website=Miami FC |access-date=14 January 2021 |language=en-us |date=14 January 2021 |archive-date=14 January 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210114160330/https://www.miamifc.com/news_article/show/1140703 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
===Detroit City=== On January 10, 2023, Ballard signed a two-year deal with USL Championship side Detroit City.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.detcityfc.com/news/2023/01/10/usl-championship-roster-updates/|title=USL Championship Roster Updates}}</ref> He left Detroit following their 2023 season.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.uslchampionship.com/news_article/show/1292909-detroit-city-fc-announces-first-roster-moves-for-2024-campaign|title=Detroit City FC announces first roster moves for 2024 campaign|first=NICHOLAS MURRAY-|last=nicholas.murray@uslsoccer.com|date=December 1, 2023|website=USL Championship}}</ref>
===One Knoxville=== Ballard joined USL League One club One Knoxville on January 11, 2024.<ref>{{cite web |title=One Knoxville SC signs Rich Ballard |url=https://www.oneknoxsc.com/news/2024/01/11/one-knoxville-sc-signs-rich-ballard/ |website=OneKnoxSC.com |publisher=One Knoxville |access-date=11 January 2024}}</ref> He was released by Knoxville following their 2024 season.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.oneknoxsc.com/news/2024/12/03/one-knoxville-departing-players-2024/|title=One Knoxville SC - Departing Players following 2024 Campaign}}</ref>
==Honors== ===Club=== '''Louisville City FC''' *USL Cup (2): 2017,<ref name='2017TitleMatch'>{{cite web|url=http://www.uslsoccer.com/news_article/show/856196?referrer_id=2333971|title=Louisville's Late Winner Claims USL Cup Victory|last=Murray|first=Nicholas|date=14 November 2017|website=www.uslsoccer.com|publisher=USL|access-date=14 November 2017|df=mdy-all }}</ref> 2018<ref name='2018TitleMatch'>{{cite web|url=https://www.uslsoccer.com/news_article/show/966965|title=Spencer's Strike Leads Louisville to Second Straight USL Cup|last=Arlia|first=John|date=8 November 2018|website=www.uslsoccer.com|publisher=USL|access-date=8 November 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181109043206/https://www.uslsoccer.com/news_article/show/966965|archive-date=9 November 2018|url-status=live|location=Louisville, KY|df=mdy-all}}</ref>
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== {{commons category}} * {{USL player}} * [http://iuhoosiers.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=3301&path=msoc Richard Ballard] at Indiana Hoosiers
{{DEFAULTSORT:Ballard, Richard}} Category:1994 births Category:Living people Category:American men's soccer players Category:Indiana Hoosiers men's soccer players Category:Derby City Rovers players Category:DuPont Manual High School alumni Category:Louisville City FC players Category:Miami FC players Category:Detroit City FC players Category:Men's association football midfielders Category:Soccer players from Louisville, Kentucky Category:USL League Two players Category:USL Championship players Category:One Knoxville SC players Category:21st-century American sportsmen