Rich Mirshak, a respected educator, coach and official made his indelible mark on the sport of wrestling in a short period of time. He entered wrestling as a coach at Roxbury High School never having wrestled. He learned the sport by attending clinics and talking to those he respected in the sport: Ed Sterli, Charlie Speidel, Bill Burke, Joe Krufka, and Ray French.

His Roxbury teams earned a record of 75-29-2 with 23 District Champions, 6 Region Champs, and 2 State Champions. Rich had a passion for wrestling. One clear image of him is his driving a pick-up truck with rolled up mats to set up for a summer wrestling tournament at the Morris County Fair his young daughter sitting next to him. Another finds him sitting at mat side with a capacity crowd providing deafening background noise as his voice flies through the air shouting advice to his wrestler – who somehow could hear him. Rich not only coached, he became totally involved in the sport. He directed tournaments, taught at coaching and officiating clinics, served as President of the New Jersey Wrestling Coaches and Officials Association, chaired the New Jersey Wrestling Committee, and contributed as an active member of the NJSIAA Executive Committee.

He earned a reputation as a school administrator, first as Principal of Roxbury High School, then as Superintendent of West Morris Regional School District and finally as Principal/Superintendent of a new school that was under construction, Wallkill Valley Regional High School. A man of stern countenance with an unusual compassion for others, he had an ability to communicate with people, especially students. He made you feel important, confident. His students at Roxbury High School selected him as Principal of the Year when a radio station in NYC held a contest that surveyed the entire metropolitan area. When he prepared to open Wallkill, he wanted the school to be special particularly in respect to wrestling; therefore, he worked closely with the architects to ensure the inclusion of a school gymnasium that could provide maximum seating for wrestling fans of Northwest Jersey. For 30 years, the gym, named in his honor, has served as the site for the Region I Tournament. Dick Mirshak was special.

He was special not only as a coach and administrator but as a wrestling official too. He worked the most competitive matches throughout New Jersey, including the State Finals eleven consecutive times. After he retired from coaching, he devoted himself to the profession of officiating, willingly teaching cadet classes as well as helping young officials improve their performance. His perceptive, realistic suggestions helped many inexperience officials mature into quality officials. He was fierce about sportsmanship and instructed younger officials never to accept abuse from any coach, regardless of the reason. In honor and respect of his excellence as a human being and as a superb wrestling official the NJWOA established the Richard C. Mirshak Award of Excellence in Officiating which is given annually to that official who best exemplifies his qualities.

Rich revealed a passion for wrestling as a coach and official. He possessed the highest qualities of honesty and integrity. He was the example for other coaches and officials to emulate. His untimely death was wrestling’s loss.