Richard Messier is one of the most accomplished coaches in Maryland history. A native of Rhode Island, Messier won the state championship at 185 pounds in high school. Messier competed at Frostburg State College, where he was a three-time conference placer. He started the wrestling program at DeMatha in 1979, and has coached the team since inception with a 448-99-7 record. Messier's teams have won eight

National Preps titles, including five in a row between 1995 and 1999. He has coached 29 individual He has coached 29 individual National Preps champions and 64 National Preps All-Americans. His wrestlers have won 38 individual Maryland private schools state championships.

Under Messier's leadership DeMatha, has won 23 WCAC conference championships, including 22 in a row between 1986 and 2008. His wrestlers have won 171 individual WCAC titles. Messier has coached eight wrestlers who are now currently coaches, including a former assistant coach at the U.S. Naval Academy and Todd Beckerman, who is the head assistant coach at the University of Maryland.

Also a teacher, Messier is a member of the National Education Association and the National Wrestling Coaches Association. Many times throughout his career, media organizations have honored his coaching achievements. Messier has been named coach of the year for the Prince George's Gazette, Prince George's

Journal and Washington Post a total of 12 times. The Washington Post named him coach of the decade for the 1990s.

In 1997 and 1999, the MSWA named him coach of the year for independent schools. In 1998, he was named the National Preps Coach of the Year, the Neil Buckley Award. In 2007, Messier was awarded the

Maryland Govenor's citation for 20 years of outstanding service. He is also a member of the Frostburg State and DeMatha Halls of Fame.