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Richard Birdwell was one of the architects of the Drury soccer program as he came to Drury in the fall of 1991, the first year Drury sponsored soccer. A native of Wichita, Kansas, Birdwell developed into one of the top defensive players in Drury soccer history as he helped lead the Panthers to post-season play in 1991, 1992 and 1993 a time in which the Drury soccer program was a member of the NAIA. His senior season he helped Drury transition into the NCAA-II as it joined that national affiliation in the fall of 1994. During his four-year Drury career Birdwell helped lead the Panthers to a NAIA Top Ten national ranking in 1992 and 1993. The 1993 team still owns the best record in the 18-year history of the Drury men’s soccer program as it fashioned a 15-6 record while advancing two rounds in NAIA postseason play. For his efforts Birdwell earned NAIA All-District, NAIA All-Area and NAIA All-America honors and was also named to the 1994 Intercollegiate Soccer Association of America Academic All-America team. A biology major, he graduated with honors from Drury on May 14, 1995 and entered medical school a year later. In 2005 he started his medical practice as an orthopedic surgeon. Richard now resides in the Minneapolis area and continues his medical practice at the Cambridge Medical Center in Cambridge, Minnesota. He and his wife, Mandy, have three children: Jayden (6), Jake (3) and Chase (1).
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