Righter, a former pitcher in the Detroit Tigers' organization who advanced as high as Triple-A, worked as an assistant coach at his alma mater—Johns Hopkins University—from 2009-13. While at Johns Hopkins, he served as the head pitching coach in addition to being the program's recruiting coordinator. During his five years there, the Blue Jays went 161-64-2, won three Centennial Conference titles from 2009-11 and qualified for the NCAA Division III College World Series in 2010. Furthermore, Johns Hopkins won five out of five Centennial Conference regular-season titles during his tenure with the Blue Jays. 

Prior to becoming a full-time college coach, Righter played professional baseball in the Detroit Tigers' organization from 2004-08 as well as for the Southern Maryland Blue Crabs of the Atlantic League—an independent league—in 2009. Righter, whose 21st-round selection in the 2004 Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft served as Johns Hopkins' highest-ever pick at the time, went on to play for the Toledo Mud Hens—the Tigers' Triple-A affiliate. In his five seasons playing professional baseball, he achieved an 18-15 record and a 4.26 ERA.

Righter's coaching experience began in 2004, helping out Johns Hopkins' baseball team during the non-traditional portion of its schedule in the fall. He served in that capacity until becoming a full-time assistant coach in 2009. In addition to his duties as an assistant baseball coach at Johns Hopkins, Righter worked as an assistant men's basketball coach with the Blue Jays in 2012-13.

Prior to becoming a coach and a professional baseball player, Righter played four years of varsity baseball and men's basketball at Johns Hopkins. The Blue Jays won four Centennial Conference baseball championships while he was an undergraduate student-athlete. In 2004, he was an integral part of a Blue Jay team that started the season 33-0 and was ranked No. 1 in Division III. Righter was named Johns Hopkins' "Male Athlete of the Year" after being named All-Conference in both sports.

Righter earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in international relations from Johns Hopkins in 2004, and in 2009, he earned his Master’s in Business Administration from the University of Phoenix while playing at the Double-A level in the Tigers' organization.