Rich Fleming completed his 20th season of coaching the wrestlers at Baldwin-Wallace College in 2007-2008.
To contact Head Coach Rich Fleming, please call him in his office at 440-826-3258 or contact the Athletic Department at 440-826-2184. You also can reach Coach Fleming via e-mail at rfleming@bw.edu.
Coach Fleming is committed to having championship wrestling at the College and keeping the Yellow Jackets a power in the Ohio Athletic Conference and at the NCAA Division III level. During the past six years, B-W has placed second at the OAC Championship Tournament three times, been nationally ranked during four seasons and produced five Division III All-Americans.
During his B-W coaching career, Coach Fleming has tutored 33 wrestlers to the Division III National Tournament, including 1989 NCAA Division III 177-pound national champion Kevin Higgins and two national runners-up.
This season, Fleming's team was led by two-time Division III All-American 165-pounder Gino Russo, who placed sixth at the Division III National Tournament.
In 2006-2007, Flemin's team peaked at the right time as it placed second at the 21st Annual John Summa Memorial Tournament, second at the OAC Tournament with three individual champions and was the top Ohio College team at the Division III National Tournament with a 14th place finish. Individually, graduated 285-pounder Bryan Kmetz, Russo and current junior 197-pounder Paul Burger (Mentor) each won an individual OAC title and advanced to the national tournament. At the national tourney, Kmetz finished as a Division III national runner-up and Russo placed sixth.
Coach Fleming's 2005-2006 team also peaked at the right time and finished second at the OAC Tournament with All-American Devin Carman '05 winning an OAC ttle and placing eighth at the Division III national tourney at 197 pounds.
Coach Fleming is the second winningest wrestling coach in school history and trails only B-W, Greater Cleveland and Ohio wrestling coaching legend John Summa. Coach Fleming has been a winner his entire life.
As a wrestler, Coach Fleming learned that it takes hard work to become a champion. His 123-pound Mid-American Conference title while at Miami of Ohio is evidence of that work ethic. That same work ethic governs B-W wrestling.
Coach Fleming is a 1963 graduate of Miami of Ohio and earned his master's degree from Cleveland State University in 1985. Prior to coming to B-W, he spent 18 years building a powerful program at nearby Parma Senior High School. Coach Fleming is retired as a teacher and has dedicated his time to building the Yellow Jacket program into one of the best in Division III.
Coach Fleming and his wife Linda reside in Sagamore Hills and have two daughters.
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Coach Fleming is assisted by former Yellow Jacket wrestler and graduate Sean Folk as well as Aldo Campea.
275 Eastland Rd.