Rick Harvick was a three sport athlete at North High School between 1965 and 1969 earning his varsity letter six times in four years. He was not only an outstanding athlete at North, but, he was also a member of the executive board of the school by being voted senior class vice-president.
Rick played varsity football his junior and senior years and was voted to the All City team his senior year. He was also a three year member of the varsity wrestling and baseball teams, and, was selected to the All City Baseball team his senior year.
From North High, Rick enrolled at Bakersfield College where he continued his athletic career. He was a member of two Metropolitan League Championship teams in football and was also on the baseball team. In 1974, Rick graduated from Cal State University Bakersfield with a Bachelors Degree, graduated from Cal Lutheran in 1994 with a Masters of Arts in Administration, and earned his Administrative Credential from Fresno Pacific University in 2001.
Rick started his coaching career as head JV wrestling coach at North in 1972 guiding his team to an SYL Championship. He also held the head JV football and baseball positions from 1980-84, and, was head varsity football coach from 1985-1989 winning the SYL championship one time. As head baseball coach at McFarland, Rick won the league championship and earned League Coach of the year two times. At Shafter, he won the league as head varsity football coach, was runner-up in the valley game, and, was All Area Coach of the Year in 1984.
After retiring from coaching, Rick went into Administration where he held positions at three different schools in the Kern High School District from 1991-2013. From North, to Stockdale, to BHS, Rick was Athletic Director, Dean of Students, Dean of Athletics and Activities, and, Vice Principal. Rick said his final goodbye to education on January 1, 2013.
Rick is proud to have been coached by three charter members of this Athletic Hall of Fame; Turk Eliades, Win Bootman, and Sam Barton. He credits his parents, however, for his success in athletics and life in general. As excellent role models for Rick and his siblings, Mike and Becky, Charlie and June Harvick never missed a sporting event or any other school activity. In fact, his Mom kept a pretty close eye on her young son by being on campus everyday as attendance secretary.
Rick and Tish will be celebrating their 42nd anniversary in June and keep busy traveling and spending time with the grandkids. Their son, Matthew, played baseball at North, graduated from Oral Roberts University and lives in Bakersfield with his wife and two daughters. Their daughter, Misty was a cheerleader at North, graduated from Long Beach State and lives in Virginia with her husband and two sons.