FROM THE DEKALB DAILY CHRONICLE
DeKALB - At the ripe age of 37, Rich Harvey has already accomplished a lifetime of achievements.
The former DeKalb High School wrestling coach was inducted into the Mt. Zion High School Hall of Fame in 2006. At Mt. Zion, Harvey racked up countless awards as a three-sport star athlete. Harvey compiled a 27-5 mark in three years as the starting varsity quarterback, stamping his name all over the state records. Harvey tossed 54 career touchdowns to finish with 4,756 yards of total offense. In wrestling, the 1988 graduate was a three-time state qualifier, earning three state records, including ranking ninth all-time with 1,702 points. A three-year letterwinner in baseball, Harvey was being scouted by major league teams before an genetic eye disease ended his baseball career.
At Millikin University, Harvey starred in football and wrestling. He was a four-year starter at quarterback, leading Millikin to the national playoffs in his sophomore campaign.
When he turned his attention to coaching, Harvey played a key role in developing 19 varsity state place winners. Since the 1954-55 season, the fabled DHS varsity wrestling program has seen just five head coaches, with Harvey compiling an eye-popping 129-36-1 mark in seven years. Harvey has taught in the DeKalb district for 13 years before deciding to embark on another challenge by becoming the Assistant Principal at Rochelle High School. Also, Harvey will be an assistant football coach.
The highly-successful athlete and coach recently sat down with the Daily Chronicle to discuss his playing and coaching career, his family and leaving DeKalb High School.
I love high school sports. That's why I became a coach, for these guys to have the same experiences I've had. I was very fortunate to be successful in football, wrestling and baseball. It's a joy. So many good memories, but I only remember the losses. I thrived on competition. I miss high school. I had great coaches and grew up in a great community.
I still don't know what my best sport was. I started four years at quarterback in college. I was a three-time national qualifier and had to give up baseball because of my eyes. That was probably my best sport. I didn't realize I needed contacts until college. I had a genetic disease in which my cornea is a football shape and light comes in weird.
We ran a run-and-shoot with no-huddle at Millikin. My coach was cutting edge. My junior year I passed for 2,500 yards and rushed for about a 1,000. My senior year I passed for about 1,800 and ran for 1,000. My coach always called me a fullback at the quarterback spot. I didn't avoid anybody. I tried to run everybody over. Wrestling-wise, I was kind of a bull. The thing I had with both sports was I was good for five yards. My first two or three steps were explosive.
I just enjoyed playing sports. I played them for the love of the game. I started wrestling when I was six, football practices with my dad at seven or eight and I grew up with a bat in my hand. I ran track and played basketball in junior high. We did everything. My dad kept me busy. I enjoyed it. We were together every day.
I can always credit being a coach to my dad. He dragged me around to every practice. He coached football, wrestling and baseball. Since I was five, I went to almost every practice and I could see his enjoyment working with kids. My dad has been a big factor in my life. He coached me through junior high. I won a state championship in wrestling here at Northern Illinois in eighth grade. That was weird. It's tough for a parent to coach their son and not burn them out. He just had the right approach. I've been wrestling for 31 years and still not tired of it.
I've always be told to be conservative and not look for attention. My dad taught me to do my thing and try and do it the best I can. I'm very fortunate to have my mom and dad. My dad is one of a kind.
Teaching at Huntley (Middle School) was the most rewarding experience I've ever had. My first eight years teaching at that school was incredible. I met some great people. I miss Huntley and working with that age group. It was very rewarding seeing kids be successful and creating relationships. I couldn't believe they were paying me to coach. Teaching has been a good profession for me. I've really enjoyed it.
The hardest part for any coach is to teach the details. I tried to teach things in little steps. I was fortunate to have some great mentors like Arch Richoz, Dan Cliff and Terry McCoy. Now, I can sit back and coach any kid in any style of wrestling. I've got it figured out and now I'm leaving.
The biggest thing is you have to surround yourself with good people. Terry and Arch have always been by my side. I can always call them and they help me out. I'm going to miss those two men tremendously. Terry taught me to get to know your kids, what works well with them and know how to get the most out of them. Terry told me to figure out what each kid can do well and take their strengths and use them. And Arch Richoz was like a father to me. He and his wife are like family. They're incredible.
This year in wrestling was really enjoyable. We had some young coaches who had some good relationships with the kids. Mike Pater was a blessing. Andy Hiatt and my brother were great. Darren Ryan and Rick Davis. This was the best year I ever had. We weren't 25-1. I've been there. But the kids responded and we could see improvement throughout the year. They were so young and we saw at the end of the season we could take a big step next year. Having Shay (Sticka) and Loren (Legorreta) qualify for state was a real nice finish.
I took a big step in public relations this year and getting out to the community and talking to people and holding conversations, which was probably my weakest point. Unfortunately, that was the step that helped me make the decision to go to the next level.
I never wanted to be the head football coach at DeKalb. I just enjoy sports and was just happy to help out. It's a very demanding job. I always wanted to be the head wrestling coach at DeKalb.
My first meet ever at DeKalb was against Sycamore in 1994, the day before Thanksgiving. Both sides of the bleachers were full from top to bottom. When we ran out underneath the spotlight, I almost froze and my hair stood up on end. It was awesome. The music was blaring and everybody was standing up. We had two kids get knocked out because they were wrestling so hard. It was just an incredible atmosphere. That's what really told me I wanted to be the head coach at DeKalb.
Wrestling is a unique sport. To stand up and go to the center mat by yourself in front of two or three thousand people, there is no sport like it other than boxing. That takes a lot of courage. Wrestling builds character. I've done all kinds of sports, but next to swimming it's the most physically demanding sport you can do. The sport makes you set goals and pushes you to your limits. It's such a tough sport to go out on that mat to wrestle and the dedication and commitment and mental toughness it teaches. Wrestlers are a special breed, no matter if they're successful or not. They're different kids. That's why I like wrestling.
Watching Sam Hiatt, as a freshman, beat the defending state champion who was 72-0 was amazing. That was incredible.
There has been a lot of great families to come through DeKalb. One day I asked Dan Hiatt what made his kids so tough. He said, “Make them hate to lose and you have to have a strong mom.” The Pelikan family, the Faivre family and the Waters family lately. All families are unique. You take a little bit from each family. They've helped me raise my own kids. I've enjoyed working with all of them.
My family comes first. I have three kids. And this year I was dropping my son at one practice and going to another. That really frustrated me because I wanted to be there for him like my dad was there for me.
Somebody called me about an opening and I didn't want to interview at first. I got my administrative certificate five years ago. Even when I was offered the job at Rochelle, I didn't know what to do. It was very difficult. The one thing that really helps is I still get to coach. I'm going to miss it, miss the people and kids here. I still don't know if it was the right decision. Only time will tell. But so far the people at Rochelle been very welcoming. But I'm glad to move to a smaller town, and there's a big connection there from Millikin. It's comfortable. It's a good situation. It will be different and nice not being the head coach.
The DeKalb wrestling program is going to be strong and solid. We've got some great kids coming up. I feel like I let the football program down. We never got to where we wanted to go together. I wish them all the luck. I'm going to miss all of those guys. It's tough leaving. You could never have told me I was going to leave DeKalb. I really enjoyed the people and community.
My wife, Staci, is my foundation. She has been so supportive. She is the most important person in my life along with my kids. She's always been there for me and supported me in everything I've done. I can't thank her enough. She never complains or asks for anything in return.
I want to be involved in the lives of my children and guide them in the right direction. My dad taught me family values and was always there for me and my brother. I love my kids. They're very important to me.
I get challenged by the (high school) kids in wrestling on occasion. I just ask how hard they want to go. I let some of the kids beat on me. I just want to make them better. I wrestle the heavyweights and the 103-pound guys.
Every kid is important, whether a state champion or a back-up quarterback. As a coach, I've had a lot of great experiences. The kids have provided those opportunities for me. I didn't finish the job as the wrestling coach. I always wanted to put a banner up. I've got a banner that I have in my office that is ready to be printed. All we have to do is go down and place in the dual-state tournament. That was my goal.
This town has been so good to me and the community has been so supportive. It was such a difficult decision to leave, but I think this was a good move for my family and that's what I base all my decisions on. I will miss so many people like (DHS Principal) Lindsey Hall and (DHS Athletic Director) Dan Jones. They've been great to me. They're doing some special things at DeKalb High School. I feel like I'm leaving a family.
Bobby Narang can be reached at bnarang@daily-chronicle.com.
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