Former Bucknell swimming student-athletes Dan and Chris Richards will donate $1.5 million to the men’s and women’s water polo programs at their alma mater.

The couple made the commitment in honor of former swim coach Dick Russell.

Russell coached the swimming and diving programs from 1968 to 1994 and created the Bucknell water polo program in 1977. The multiyear donation will build an endowment that will generate funds for the water polo program. The Russell Endowment will join a similar gift established for the swimming and diving programs in 2002 by William D. Dearstyne. That endowment honors former Athletics Director Bob Latour.

 “To me, the most rewarding aspect of this gift is that it comes from two former Bison student-athletes who enjoyed such a positive experience at Bucknell that they felt compelled to give back as alumni,” said Athletics Director John Hardt. “Their leadership and financial support can serve as a model for all our sports programs here at Bucknell, as well as for other institutions around the country.”

The Richards’ commitment includes a matching challenge program to encourage additional support for Bucknell’s aquatics programs.