Tennessee-Martin announces Ryan Ridder as head men’s basketball coach

Tennessee-Martin announced on Tuesday the hiring of Ryan Ridder as the Skyhawks’ head men’s basketball coach. Ridder had been the head coach at Bethune-Cookman since 2017, going 48-45 over three seasons (the program was shutdown for 2020-21 due to COVID-19).

“I am beyond thrilled to welcome Ryan, Jen and their young family to Martin,” AD Kurt McGuffin said in the release. “I am confident that he has the game plan to take our program to another level. He has shown to be a builder of programs and does this with the highest integrity – getting all he can out of his players in every situation his career has led him. I believe the Skyhawk fan base will enjoy his energy and passion – he is simply a winner.”

Ridder comes from a basketball family, having played for and coached under his father, Steve Ridder, at D-II Emory-Riddle (FL). Before getting the B-C job in 2017, he was the head coach for four seasons at Daytona State College where he won the Mid-Florida (NCJAA) Conference title each year.

“First, I would like to thank our Chancellor, Dr. Keith Carver and Director of Intercollegiate Athletics Kurt McGuffin for their trust in me and the opportunity to lead the men’s basketball program at UT Martin,” Ridder said. “Our family is excited and looking forward to building relationships with the campus and community. We are fired up to work together to build a program that reflects the special people of Martin and the university.”

The Skyhawks were coached in 2020-21 by Montez Robinson, who stepped in after the tragic passing of former head coach Anthony Stewart. The program’s last three postseason appearances were in the CIT (the most recent being in 2017), but the Skyhawks have never been to the D-I NCAA Tournament.

credit to Tennessee-Martin Athletics for the image