Coach Rich is what one might call " a late starter" being formally trained by a former light heavyweight boxer by the name of John Donovan at the young age of 33.
He competed in the next Uniformed Olympic tournament - held every year between uniformed personnel (Fire, Police and Correction). Coach Rich was a civilian but snuck in as Officer Santiago and was matched against a quarter-finalist in the Golden Gloves the previous year. Coach Rich won a decision and decided then to just train. He stayed in the gym, sparring officers, inmates and eventually started a team of inmates in 1991 and held two tournaments on Riker's Island.
Coach moved to Florida in 1998 and began coaching/training youth at the Fort Pierce Police Athletic League until 2002 when he branched off and began his own team called World Class Boxing Club, inc.
In 2007 at age 55 Coach Rich entered the Ringside Invitational tournament in Kansas and competed in the Master's division. He stopped his opponent in the first round.
In 2008 Coach Rich competed in the Platinum Gloves held in Orlando where he lost a decision to a boxer 8 years younger than him. It was at this time he decided to focus primarily on training.
Coach Rich is a Level II Coach Certified with USA Boxing and is registered Trainer/Manager with the Florida State Boxing Commission.