in 1995, riccards became president of fitchburg state college in massachusetts, which had difficulties with low academic standards and low dormitory occupancy rates. he raised academic standards in the school's much-criticized teacher education program and started a leadership program for students, including classes in leadership. riccards convinced then-governor william weld to support construction of a new physical education building and committed it to community use. he also backed a new science complex to help re-develop the city of fitchburg. the college named its baseball field for riccards in 2007.