Westfield State was in good hands with Rich Pierce as its athletic trainer for nearly 30 years. 

Pierce, who retired this past June, has received many tributes for his outstanding service to the college community, which began in 1977. He treated thousands of student-athletes with care and compassion, and also found time in his busy schedule to tend to the aches and pains of faculty and staff. 

The Attleboro, Mass., native has been recognized both regionally and nationally for his dedication and exemplary service to the athletic training profession. This year he was inducted into the Athletic Trainers of Massachusetts (ATOM) Hall of Fame. In 2003 he received the “Most Distinguished Athletic Trainer Award”, which recognized him for his 30 years of service to the National Athletic Trainers’ Association (NATA) and the athletic training profession. And in 1990 he received the Eastern Athletic Trainers Association’s “Athletic Trainer of the Year” award. 

After graduating from American University in 1973, Pierce served as the head athletic trainer at his alma mater for four years before moving back to New England. While working in Washington, D.C., he was a two-year summer intern with the Washington Redskins and worked with the Washington Diplomats of the North American Soccer League. 

In addition to serving as Westfield State’s trainer for 29 years, Pierce was the coordinator of the college’s athletic training program from 1978 to 1995. He served as a clinical instructor for Westfield State’s accredited athletic training education program for the past seven years. 

Over the past three decades, Pierce has mentored approximately 125 students who have graduated from Westfield State’s athletic training program. And 43 of them are currently certified trainers, including Don Del Negro (’84), the Boston Bruins’ head trainer, and Stu Lempke (’88), former assistant trainer for the Carolina Hurricanes. 

Frank Mastrangelo (’91), a former student athletic trainer at Westfield State, echoes the sentiments of many with these glowing remarks: 

“Rich Pierce is a trainer who supports his students and treats them as a true part of the program. He has been an effective mentor with all the human caring qualities and values that any parent would want in an educator, the qualities and values that last a lifetime. He holds all his students accountable and pushes them to their fullest potential. Rich is the teacher that always “does it for the kids” but does it silently behind the scenes. There is no doubt we are most fortunate to have him in the field of athletic training.” 

Pierce also has served on various state, regional and national athletic trainers association leadership committees, including a two-year term as president of the Athletic Trainers of Massachusetts (ATOM) from 1981-83. He was a founding member of ATOM and served as the first elected secretary from 1979-81. He was the secretary-treasurer of the Eastern Athletic Trainers Association from 1983-87, and currently serves as the District I representative to the NATA history and archives committee. He has also served as a Boston Marathon medical volunteer for nearly 20 races. 

Pierce resides in Granville, Mass., with his wife, Mary Ann Fernandez. His retirement plans include travel and outdoor activities. He has applied to the United States Olympic Committee to participate in their volunteer athletic training program, and expects to continue athletic training and mentoring student athletic trainers on a limited basis.