Beginning his 27th year of coaching in the program, Rich Downs has been an integral part in the success of Rapid City Post 22 baseball.

As the top assistant in the Post 22 program, Downs has helped build it into one of the dominant programs in all of American Legion baseball.  His successful coaching style has allowed him to work at the NAIA, Division II and Division I levels.

While finishing up his masters at the University of South Dakota, Downs worked as a graduate assistant with the now-defunct Coyote baseball program.

He would later serve six years as the head baseball and assistant football coach at Dakota Wesleyan University in Mitchell. He also spent a year as an assistant at Creighton, and four years with the baseball program at National American University in Rapid City. He also worked as an assistant football coach at South Dakota Tech for five years.

A Rapid City Stevens graduate, Downs was a tremendous catcher during his playing days with Post 22. In 1976, he earned South Dakota American Legion Player of the Year honors, spearheading his team to a state title.

His Legion success helped him land a spot on the baseball team at Yankton College, where he was a two-time all-American catcher at the NAIA school. A three-time all-conference pick while at Yankton, he twice was named team captain.

Downs is married. His wife, Tracy, is a social studies teacher at Dakota Middle School in Rapid City. The couple have three children - Max, Brooke and Hallie.