By Stretch Jenkinson

3/15/2024

MARTIN, Tenn. – The University of Tennessee at Martin will conduct a national search for its next head men’s basketball coach after Ryan Ridder submitted his resignation today, athletic director Kurt McGuffin announced.

“Coach Ridder informed me of his decision to accept the head coaching position at Mercer University this afternoon,” McGuffin said. “We are so appreciative of his efforts here – to take over a program with an all-new roster three years ago to winning an Ohio Valley Conference regular season championship is truly remarkable. Coach Ridder exceeded all expectations and I know Skyhawk Nation wishes him and his family well in his new role.”

Ridder steadily increased UT Martin’s win totals in each of his three years at the helm, concluding with 21 victories in 2023-24 (tying a school record for most regular season wins). In his first season, he guided a Skyhawk squad that was the first NCAA Division I men’s basketball team to not return a single player since 2014-15. That team finished 8-22 but laid the groundwork for a strong foundation over the next two seasons.

In 2022-23, Ridder engineered the second-biggest turnaround in school history as UT Martin won 19 games and went 10-8 in OVC play. The 10 league wins were the third-most in school history as the Skyhawks defeated every OVC team at least once for only the second time in program history. UT Martin ranked second in school history in scoring while ranking in the top-15 nationally in four different statistical categories.

Those accomplishments culminated in a historic season for the Skyhawks in 2023-24. UT Martin won its second OVC regular season championship in school history (first in 15 seasons) and advanced to the OVC Championship semifinals for the second consecutive year. The Skyhawks equaled the program record with 14 OVC victories and once again defeated every league team at least once. UT Martin set the all-time school record in rebounding and free throw percentage while ranking in the top-25 in the country in five different categories.

Overall, Ridder oversaw seven All-OVC honorees, nine OVC Players of the Week (including a school-record seven honorees in 2023-24) and 14 OVC Newcomer of the Week recipients at UT Martin. He was 48-47 overall as a Skyhawk and is 191-120 in 10 years as a collegiate head coach.

“We intend to move swiftly to find our next head coach,” McGuffin said. “We will work diligently to find the right fit for the UT Martin men’s basketball program.”

COURTESY TENNESSEE MARTIN ATHLETIC COMMUNICATIONS