There are some new faces among the Mount Michael football coaching staff this season. Principal, Tom Ridder, has been appointed head coach while also adding four new varsity assistants.

Ridder was a worthy candidate for the job considering his previous coaching experience. After playing at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, he served as a graduate assistant coach there until he began his high school coaching career. He has had several head coaching positions including Hartington Public, Roncalli, Plattsmouth, and Humphrey. Ridder joked that his favorite part of coaching is yelling at his players but on a more serious note, he said he loves working with young people. He also has put in an entire new offense for the Knights. When asked how he thinks the team is responding to the changes, he said, “I think we are doing well and making good progress for where we need to be at this point.”

On the other side of the ball, the defensive coordinator duties have been taken up by alum, Brian Iodence ’77. He has a solid football background, and his knowledge of the game will be of great value to the Knights. After having played quarterback and defensive back for Mount Michael in the mid 70’s, Iodence went on to play cornerback for Nebraska through 1981. He arrived at the Mount and accompanied the Knights to a 3-day full contact summer camp at Wayne State College. He was shocked by the team’s losing records these last few years, “After camp, I was so excited. I couldn’t believe this team was 1-7 last year,” he said.

Assisting Ridder and Iodence, are alumni John Dustin ’97 and Mike Gilligan ‘97, and Don Ridder, Coach Ridder’s brother. Dustin, who is the nephew of Head Coach Ridder, has been designated the running backs’ and linebackers’ coach. In high school, he played fullback for the Knights and is the all-time leading rusher in class C-1. He also went on later to play for the University of Nebraska-Omaha.
The receivers and defensive-ends have been taken over by Mike Gilligan who is also the head freshmen dean. Gilligan played tight-end for the Knights on a 10-1 team. The consistent losing records these last few years have been frustrating for him to watch. “I want a ten win season and to put Mount Michael football back where it was,” he firmly stated.

The final addition to the new staff is Don Ridder, who serves as an assistant line and defensive coach. Ridder is the current principal at St. Patrick’s in Elkhorn. Like his brother, he has head coaching experience with more than one school. His prior jobs include head coach at Valley and Benedict. He then served as a principal of Crete High School which forced him to put his coaching career on hold until now. Coaching at the Mount will not only give him the opportunity to get back into football, but the chance to coach alongside family. “We, [Tom and I], have the same concept of what it takes to get the best out of individual players and the team,” he said.

Overall, the coaches agree this should be a turn around season and that there is talent and good potential. “I don’t like to make predictions,” Tom Ridder said, “but we will work hard and get better every week.” - Brad Vonnahme