Dick Doherty wrestled from 1946 to 1950 at Amityville High School for coaches Lonnie Kittle and Joe Valla.

Like his brother, he compiled a winning record during his high school career, capped off by a second-place finish in the Long Island championships. Dick was instrumental in leading the Amityville wrestling team to two consecutive runner-up finishes in the Suffolk County tournament in 1949 and 1950.

Upon graduation in 1950, Dick enlisted in the United States Navy and later attended Millersville State Teachers College. While wrestling at Millersville, Dick competed for Coach Rupp, whose teams compiled an overall record of 29-7-1. Dick finished his career at Millersville having placed two times in the Pennsylvania State Athletic championships. 

But it was not until after college though that Dick truly made his mark in the wrestling world as a coach and mentor to many student athletes.

Together, he and his brother Doppy started the wrestling program at Berner High School in 1963 while they were teachers in the Massapequa School District. Dick would eventually assume the responsibility of the head coaching job at Berner following the unfortunate and untimely death of Doppy in 1974 at the age of 44.