It seems only fitting that RJ would start his life on an Air Force Base, and then make such a huge impact on kids in an Air Force town! RJ earned a combined wrestling and vocal scholarship at Clackamus Community College in Oregon, but opted instead to begin his career and build his family with the Air Force himself. After serving assignments in Colorado, Texas, and West Germany, RJ returned to his hometown to serve his last 13 years of active duty at Mountain Home AFB. It was during this assignment and his subsequent career moves in military civil service and as a defense contractor that RJ made his most significant contributions to Idaho and Air Force wrestling. 

At the request of his former high school coach, RJ founded the Mountain Man Wrestling Club for youth in Elmore County and surrounding communities in 1991. Over the next 13 years, RJ built the local club into the 2nd largest in the state. The Mountain Man club produced standout wrestlers that then formed the backbone of the Mountain Home middle school and high school wrestling success story teams during the years that followed, including 19 individual state champions, 54 state place-winners, one 4-time finalist, one 3-time finalist, and three “Triple Crown” winners with championships in USA Wrestling Freestyle and Greco-Roman styles in addition to their high school gold medals. From this group, two wrestlers lived up to their national rankings with a combined 7 All-American finishes, and one FILA Cadet World Team selection. Seven of these wrestlers went on to compete in college programs as well.

During this period, RJ also became heavily involved in USA Wrestling. RJ served as the Idaho National Team Director and coach for USA-Idaho Wrestling. During his three years in this role, Team Idaho had two top-ten national team finishes, and had 2 National Champions and 28 All American wrestlers. RJ also served as an Assistant Coach for the All Air Force Wrestling Team for four years under Olympic coach Rich Estrella, including one National Championship team finish, two 2nd place team finishes, coaching 5 individual senior world team members. RJ was instrumental in bringing the USAF National Camp and Team Trials to Mountain Home AFB, where they remained for 9 years and hosted two Armed Forces Championships tournaments. After retiring from active duty, RJ coached one year in California, before returning to Idaho, where he settled in Pocatello, and has continued his involvement in Idaho wrestling as a high school and NCWA official, including 14 state tournaments in Idaho and Utah. 

Go Idaho!!!