Colorado College men’s soccer coach Horst Richardson picked up career victory No. 500 Saturday – though he was absent from the pitch when his squad presented him with the win because he was attending the funeral of a former team member.

He became the fourth Division III coach and ninth in any NCAA division to achieve the milestone in the Tigers’ victory over Dallas.

“I’m very happy about achieving the milestone,” Richardson said. “But I wish I could enjoy it under different circumstances.”

Richardson attended the funeral of Chris Quon, a former Tiger student-athlete from the Chicago area who died last week. Quon, who also played lacrosse at the school, graduated last May with a degree in economics. The Tigers decided last week to dedicate this season to his memory. Richardson described Quon as “an inspiration to his teammates through his upbeat nature, outgoing personality and his athletic ability.”

In the team’s second win since learning of Quon’s death, Richardson became the fifth active coach in any NCAA division with 500 wins.

“I’m sort of at a loss for words,” said Richardson, who is in his 44th season at the school. “I knew that it was coming, but now that it’s here, I’m not sure how I’m supposed to feel.”

The victory clinched the 2009 Boddington Memorial Tournament title, in an event named for the school’s previous soccer coach, whom Richardson succeeded in 1966.