Tom
Ridder, the principal of Mount Michael, was born in West Point, Nebraska.
After high school he went off to college
at University of Nebraska where majored in Business Education. Mr. Ridder
was All State in football while playing in high school, so he went to
play
college football for the Huskers. Mr. Ridder has been  coaching
off and on for the past 25 years. He became a coach 25 years ago because
he enjoys working with kids and the competition. Mr. Ridder became the
head
coach for the Knights in 2003 and went on to have a successful season with
a record of 6-3, and qualifying for state playoffs. During that season
Coach
Ridder had his favorite memory while coaching. It was in the second game
and the Knights were on the road playing Arlington, and the game went into
overtime and the Knight pulled it off. The reason that this game is his
favorite is that the Knights were ahead and had a chance to win it before
the end of regulation and eventually won it in overtime. The greatest coach
that has influenced Mr. Ridder was his high school coach because he was
a good man and also Tom Osborne because he likes his philosophy of coaching.
When Mr. Ridder is not in his office or out on the practice field he can
be seen playing with his kids or listening to his favorite music from the
60’s and the 70’s. In ending Mr. Ridder has some advice to
all of you high school students, and that is to enjoy you high school and
college
years because after that you working for a long time. |
