Rick was born and raised in the baseball-rich area of St. Louis, where he learned the game from such legends as Bob Gibson, Lou Brock, Curt Flood, Ted Simmons, Ozzie Smith, Eric Davis and Albert Pujols. Although never the best player on the team, he put forth the champion's effort that awarded him 3 Varsity letters at Worden (IL) High School (1981-83). After leaving Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville in his Junior year, Rick still put his knowledge of the game to use with the local kids of the tiny rural community where he lived. Health problems in 1997 forced him to the sidelines and in August of 1998, in midst of the McGwire/Sosa Maris chase, he underwent the first of two open-heart bypass surgeries (second in 2003).

The Fall of 1999 brought a new wind of change for this diehard Cardinal enthusiast. He found out that his girlfriend of all of 1 month was pregnant with their first child! The 400 mile trek from the shadows of Anhauser-Busch to the shores of the Ohio River was an easy choice - at 34, Rick was finally going to fulfill his dream of being a dad. Sadly, on December 1st, young Judy Ann Kayla was born prematurely and only survived a few minutes. The heart that was broken by disease was now broken again by tragedy.

Less than 4 months later, Rick and his eventual wife got the good news again! Just a couple of days before Kathy was to leave the country to perform her Army Reserve commitment, she found out she was pregnant again. Ironically, she was taking a medicine to prevent malaria on her call of duty, which was a pill that was issued in the 1950s to induce abortions. Thankfully, her system didn't know history! Because of what was learned by Kayla's untimely death, Tyler Scott came jumping out 2 weeks before Christmas 2000.

Tyler is your typical boy, so when he was barely 4, he signed up with the St. Teresa of Avila Bruins. Ty was a bit rusty at first, but Rick was the one that figured out that it was the angle of the pitch that was stumping him at the plate. Once they started pitching on their knees or underhanded, he was lacing the ball like a pro!

In 2006, Ty's 2nd season, they joined the Saints. Rick has to admit he never heard of this organization before walking into the Price Hill Recreation Center last March. He went from Dad to Coach in one night! Less than 2 weeks later, Yah'Kile Powers was killed on Elberon Avenue and the Villiers were one of the first people to extend their condolences to the family (whom Rick had never met, but his wife and son had). The Powers were honored to have the Saints dedicate the season to the young man and the older brother, Yohance, begged to play on Rick's team. Those that don't believe in God's plans for everyone, think again.

Now it's 2007. He's coaching both the Veterans AND Rookies D-non teams, web-dude of the site AND President of the PHAA. Stay tuned - it's bound to get interesting!