Rich was the 1976 California Mr. Basketball, Cal-Hi Basketball Player of the Year, and a HS All-American while leading Marina HS to CIF honors. He averaged 27 points per game as a 6-3 point guard, and has had his number 10 jersey retired. He is still regarded as one of the five greatest players in OC history. He accepted a basketball scholarship to Notre Dame to player for Digger Phelps over California schools, and helped make ND history.

He was the point guard for Notre Dame’s only Final Four team in 1978 (he played with fellow HOF inductee Bill Laimbeer), and holds the honor of beating UCLA four straight years, including twice in Pauley Pavilion as the led guard. He also helped Notre Dame upset three number one teams over his career. He averaged in double figures all four years while leading the team in assists (college career 11 ppg, 4 apg). He was drafted in the fourth round of the NBA draft by Indiana. He went to graduate school at USC, and worked for a year as a graduate assistant under Stan Morrison, completing his Masters before starting a career in business. His son Rich played basketball at Pepperdine.