Sturm was a high school baseball coach in the St. Louis area for almost 50 years. He was the head baseball coach at Oakville High School from 1983 to 1999. During those 17 years, he guided his teams to a record of 301 wins and 111 losses. In 1989, Oakville finished second at the Missouri State Tournament and Sturm was named Coach of the Year. In 1985, Oakville finished third at the Missouri State Tournament. Sturm was named conference coach of the year four times. He led his teams to six district championships. In 2008, the Oakville High School Field was renamed in Sturm’s honor.

Sturm began his coaching career in the mid-1960s at Ladue High School. He also coached at Mehlville High School before coming to Oakville High School in the early 1970s.

He was an assistant baseball coach on Jim Muskopf’s Johnny Mac team from 1976 to 1979 and then again from 1987 to 1991. In 1980, Sturm founded the Oakville Raiders baseball team. He was the head coach until 1987. Sturm played baseball for Affton High School from 1957 to 1961. A right-handed pitcher, he holds the school record for total wins. He pitched one perfect game and three no-hitters. He received All-Conference honors twice.

In 1999, Sturm won the Hal Whitaker Award for character, sportsmanship, and knowledge.

He was inducted into the St. Louis Amateur Baseball Hall of Fame in 2015.

It is with great sadness that we mourn Rich Sturm, Sr. who passed away on March 18, 2025, after a significant illness. The STL Amateur Baseball Hall of Fame Board of Directors offers our sincere condolences to the Sturm family.