University of Detroit Mercy Athletics

The legend of Richard Perry, known as "Maestro", joined the Detroit fencing team in 1954 as an assistant coach. He was named the head coach in 1955 and remained in that position following the 1972 season. After a stint at University of Michigan-Dearborn's fencing program, he returned to lead the Titan fencing program in 1981which was the first for women's fencing, of which he helped to initiate. 

He remained involved with the Titan fencing program as a coach until retiring following the 1992 season. He worked with Yuri Rabinovich, named head coach of the Titans prior to the 1987 season, up until Perry retired in 1992 at the age of 72. 

Perry had an amazing 228-96 record in his first 18 years as head coach of the fencing team. He was named the National Coach of the Year in 1971. He accumulated over 330 wins in his coaching career at Detroit and produced 19 winning seasons, eight All-Americans, two U.S. Collegiate Fencers of the Year and was at the helm of Detroit's only NCAA championship team in 1972.