Rich grew up in a coastal town in Southern Maine. Before moving to Washington, Rich specialized as an electrician in the U.S. Coast Guard. Rich earned his B.S. in Psychology and a minor in Sport Psychology from Western Washington University. Throughout his two undergraduate years at WWU, Rich rowed competitively for the men’s crew team, winning gold medals at the club regional and national championships. Rich’s captivation with the characteristics and psychological skills of those who excel in high-performance environments, and interests related to mental health, compelled him to explore these areas of psychology academically. After attaining his master’s degree, Rich plans to pursue a doctorate in counseling or clinical psychology with the intention of practicing as a clinical sport psychologist.