James has been involved with the Rehoboth Christian Boys Soccer program for the last 4 seasons. In 2008 he was named the Head Boys Soccer coach and has continued to lead the team through successful seasons. In 2009 the RCS boys soccer made a run in the state tournament all the way to the State Semifinal. James owns a number of restaurants in the greater Gallup area. James is the father of recent Rehoboth graduate Jeremy Rich, sophomore Brenden Rich, and 2nd grader Jayme Rich.
Details
* NSCAA - National Private School Coach of the Year
* USSF coaching License
* NSCAA – Nation Soccer Coaches Association of America member.
* NMAA – Coaches Training Program
* USSF referee grade “8”
* Gallup Sports Commission – Chairman 12 years
* Gallup Adult Soccer League – President 5 years
* Gallup Youth Soccer League – Coach 6 years
* Youth Competitive Coach – 5 years
* Rehoboth Christian High School - Assistant Coach 2 years, Head Coach 2 years.
Regional Soccer Coach of the Year - Rehoboth News, Winter 2010
Despite losing eight seniors, the Rehoboth boys’ soccer team advanced to the AAA state semi-finals last fall. They lost the last game before the finals to the eventual New Mexico state champion, Bosque Prep of Albuquerque. And what a game it was—neck and neck the whole way, the game took a decided turn for the worse when Rehoboth’s Second Team AAA All-State player Jordan Yazzie broke two bones in his lower leg and had to be carried off the field on a stretcher. A disappointing finish to a very competitive season, the team still finished with a very honorable ranking of third in the state.
"It’s a huge accomplishment for the school and team," RCS boys’ coach James Rich says. "Other [coaches] were very surprised we were back [in post-season play] since we had lost so many strong players."
To top off their successful season, the team’s coach, James Rich, was voted by his district coaching colleagues as the National Soccer Coaches Association of America’s (NSCAA) Private Regional Coach of the Year, an award that Rich was honored to receive at the organization’s yearly conference in Philadelphia in January.
Rich is one of the few Rehoboth coaches who is not also a teacher at the school. A local business and franchise owner, he began coaching the game as a parent when his own kids started with Gallup’s youth soccer league, and there were never enough coaches for the kids’ teams. He educated himself on the game through reading books and watching videos, assistant coaching under two previous RCS varsity coaches, and then took over as head coach just two years ago. He currently runs the Gallup adult soccer league as well.
"He’s got a strong passion for the sport and for the sport here at Rehoboth. It’s one thing when the teachers are coaching, but [for a businessman to coach an away game] that’s half the day they’re missing on their job," Jeff Engbers, Rehoboth’s Athletic Director says. "The time and energy and the resources that he puts into [coaching] is awesome."
Rich shared his coaching honor with his son Jeremy Rich, a senior midfielder who despite a host of health issues, was elected to the AAA All-State First Team. Three other Rehoboth players were voted to the AAA All-State boys’ soccer team as well: Michael Ippel, Ryan Postma, and Jordan Yazzie, while seniors Luke Morrison and Nathaniel Bia made Honorable Mention.