Gainesville, Florida

Santa Fe College Athletics is pleased to announce the hiring of John Ritzdorf as the Men's Basketball Head Coach.

Ritzdorf is replacing long-time Head Coach Chris Mowry, who retired after a twenty-one-year tenure at Santa Fe while earning five conference coach of the year awards.

"I am so grateful and excited to be the head coach at Santa Fe.  I want to thank Dr. Naima Brown, Athletic Director Chanda Stebbins, and the entire search committee.  I look forward to the challenge of building on the success that Coach Mowry has had over the past twenty years.  My family and I can't wait to get to Gainesville and become fully ingrained in the Saints community," said John Ritzdorf.

Professional Background

Ritzdorf most recently completed his fifth season as the men's basketball head coach at Central Community College. At CCC he was a three-time Region 9 Coach of the Year and led the Raiders to their first NJCAA Division II National Tournament appearance in nine years. CCC had the highest winning percentage of any two-year collegiate program in Nebraska under Ritzdorf, and he was named to the 2020 National Association of Basketball Coaches Under Armour 30-Under-30 Team, which represents 30 of the most outstanding men's college basketball coaches under the age of 30.

Other Administrative Roles

• University of Nebraska-Kearney: assistant men's basketball coach (2016-2019)
• University of Nebraska-Omaha: director of basketball operations (2014-2016)
• Northern State University: graduate assistant (2013-2014)
• Omaha Sports Academy: youth coach and skills instructor
• Ralston High School: assistant boy's basketball coach

AD Stebbins' Thoughts

 "John is a proven winner and I am excited to see him take over Santa Fe Men's Basketball.  He creates great relationships with players, recruits hard, connects well with community and campus stakeholders, and I look forward to seeing how his investment in our young men pays off for each of them as well as SF Athletics."

Education

Ritzdorf earned his bachelor's degree in education from the University of Nebraska Omaha in 2013.

Family

Ritzdorf is married to his wife, Dana Grenfell, and has two sons, Alec and Bennett.

Article by: Bryan Denton

Graphic by: Bryan Denton