Rich Kerby

Class of 2004

Chicago (Kelvyn Park)

Rich Kerby started his wrestling career as a member of the first wrestling team at Lamphier High School in Springfield. Rich also participated in football and baseball and graduated in 1958. He continued his wrestling in at Illinois State Normal (now I.S.U.) from 1960-1962.

After graduation from I.S.U, Rich became a math teacher at Kelvyn Park High School in Chicago. In 1965 he started the wrestling program at Kelvyn Park. By the third year of existence Kelvyn Park defeated the defending conference champs and sent a wrestler to the state championship match. From 1968 to 1978, Rich coached eleven state qualifiers, with six of them placing in the top five. Three times his wrestlers made it to the championship bout.

While coaching at Kelvyn Park, Rich was co-founder and chairman of the Chicago Public League Wrestling Coaches Committee. Under his direction, the state qualifying procedure of the Chicago Public League was changed to confirm to I.HS.A. standards. Also, many coaching clinics and award programs were implemented throughout the city. Rich was later involved in the forming of the Chicago Wrestling Federation. This summer program was designed to further develop city high school wrestlers. Rich was chosen to coach the Chicago team that traveled to Finland and Poland on a cultural exchange.

Rich served as Head Coach at Kelvyn Park from, 1965 to 1978. From 1995 to 2002, he was an assistant coach at Lane Tech. Rich retired from teaching in 1999. In 2002 he again came out of retirement and coached the freshman team at Niles North High School. He was a member of the I.H.S.A. Wrestling Advisory Committee from 1973-78. He has been an I.H.S.A., N.A.I.A., and N.C.A.A. official and a freestyle and Greco­ Roman official.

With his wife Linda, Rich has owned and run a small business. He is a licensed instrument rated pilot and aircraft owner. He is an avid Corvette and motorcycle enthusiast and a tournament golfer.

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