Richard F. Scharf helped to establish the Great Lakes Valley Conference. He helped to establish the league's bylaws and regulations, and he served as the league's commissioner from 1982-91. Prior to that, he served for 21 years as the athletic director at Saint Joseph's (1961-82). A former golf, baseball, basketball, and football coach, Scharf graduated from Saint Joseph's in 1938 with an accounting degree. He helped lead SJC to a co-championship in the Indiana Collegiate Conference in 1952-53, and as a result earned Coach of the Year honors. He later received his Master's of Physical Education and his doctorate in health/safety from Indiana University. In his early days, Scharf was a standout football and basketball player.