DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. -- In 1989, Steve Ridder was named the head coach of the Embry-Riddle men's basketball team. In a 30-year tenure, which also included 20 years as the Eagles' Director of Athletics, Ridder and his wife Vicky have impacted not only the basketball team, but the entire athletics program. In recognition of their commitment and dedication to ERAU Athletics, the administration has announced the establishment of the Steve and Vicky Ridder Student-Athlete Transformational Leadership Program and Scholarship.

The campaign was launched by ERAU men's basketball alumni Owen Busch ('94), Austin Brownlee ('99) and Ryan Rothrock ('02). The program will focus on Ridder's "Student-Person-Player" philosophy, which aims to develop life and leadership skills for the university's 400-plus student-athletes to succeed after graduation.

"Vicky and I are both humbled and honored by the generosity and commitment shown by many for the creation of The Steve and Vicky Ridder Student-Athlete Transformational Leadership Program," says Ridder. "We feel blessed to have the opportunity every day to serve our students alongside so many talented and dedicated faculty, staff, administrators, coaches, and community leaders."

Ridder's unique philosophy of focusing on the player as a student and person first, has been the foundation of the Athletics program since he began his tenure at ERAU. Ridder emphasizes developing student-athletes' character, leadership and interpersonal skills, while developing their excellence as athletes. 

"Student first, person second, player third — and that is absolutely critical," Busch said. "That [philosophy] has been the secret sauce for Embry-Riddle Athletics since day one. Anyone who knows Coach Ridder knows that is the formula, and he has not deviated from that model."

The goal of the $500,000 campaign is to fund both an endowed program that will provide professional development experiences to ensure success after graduation and a scholarship program for student-athletes. 

Aimed at preparing current and future student-athletes for "Life after Sport," the program will support participants throughout their Embry-Riddle careers by providing professional and mental development training in the following core areas: Career/Professional Development, Personal Development, Leadership Development, Financial Education and Community Engagement.

"Coach built that entire athletics program, not just basketball, so we want all future student-athletes to feel that leadership value and the foundation he built that program with," Rothrock stated. "We want to ensure it continues on after him."

"[Coach] led by example, practiced what he preached, and he held everyone to that same standard, including himself," Brownlee added.

To find out more about a pledged gift opportunity to the Steve and Vicky Ridder Student-Athlete Transformational Leadership Program and Scholarship, contact Matt Wilson at matthew.wilson8@erau.edu or (386) 226-7205, or CLICK HERE to make a one-time gift that will go towards both the Program and Scholarship funds.