KANSAS CITY, Missouri - Embry-Riddle men's basketball Head Coach Steve Ridder has been named the 2022 Harry Statham Coach of Impact Award winner by Small College Basketball. Certainly no one person has had a bigger impact on the Embry-Riddle men's basketball program, the Embry-Riddle Athletic Department, the dozens of coaches and staff members involved with the Eagle men's basketball team over the last three-plus decades, the hundreds of ERAU men's basketball players and their families, the many friends and fans of the program, the thousands of youth campers, and the countless number of others that have been involved directly or indirectly with Coach Ridder, the Blue and Gold men's basketball program and the Embry-Riddle Athletic Department.

"There are many great coaches in our game today and Coach Steve Ridder is certainly one of the best," stated Statham. "He does it on and off the court. He has had an amazing career at Embry-Riddle - going from 4-22 in his first season to an NAIA record turnaround 22-8 in his second and never looking back. He won the NAIA National Championship in 1999-2000 and was National Coach of the Year. While he has amassed numerous coaching honors and accolades, his players have also earned an unbelievable number of athletic and academic awards at the national and conference levels. Coach Steve Ridder is a true champion who has built a championship program."

The Student-Person-Player philosophy at Embry-Riddle, developed by Coach Ridder over three decades ago, has been the cornerstone of not just the ERAU Men's Basketball program, but the entire Embry-Riddle Athletic Department. Put simply, it is a commitment to academic achievement, campus and community involvement, personal holistic growth, and a drive to excel in sport.

In addition to building one of the most successful college basketball programs in the country with the Student-Person-Player mantra as the foundation, Ridder was the driving force behind building one of the most successful college athletic departments in the nation, based on the same philosophy.

"I am absolutely honored and appreciative to be recognized as this year's recipient of the Harry Statham Coach of Impact Award," Ridder said. "Especially because of what this award represents, and more importantly, for whom it is named after, the legendary Coach Harry Statham."

For the 200+ young men that have worn the Blue and Gold, Coach Ridder's impact cannot be understated. His commitment to their growth and development, not only on the basketball court, but more importantly, in the classroom and in their personal lives, is a huge reason for the success the Eagles have had on the floor, and in his player's lives "after basketball."

Everyone that is touched by the Embry-Riddle Men's Basketball program, and Steve Ridder in particular, is part of the Embry-Riddle Basketball "Family," a term that Coach Ridder never shies away from using. From student managers, to assistant coaches, athletic trainers, game operations staff, and fans, Coach Ridder treats one and all with respect, and embraces the role of a servant-leader.

"I was absolutely thrilled to learn that Coach Ridder was going to be honored with the Harry Statham Coach of Impact Award — there is no one more deserving," said Embry-Riddle Director of Athletics John Phillips. "Over the last 30+ years, Coach Ridder has impacted the lives of hundreds of basketball players — but also every student-athlete, coach and staff member that has been part of the athletic program here at Embry-Riddle. He is a visionary leader that has used the game of basketball to impact his team, our athletic program, our university and the entire Daytona Beach community."

Coach Ridder has been inducted into five separate Halls of Fame (NAIA, Florida Association of Basketball Coaches, Berea College, Northern Kentucky, Bellevue High School), has been named a Coach of the Year on eight different occasions, including NAIA Coach of the Year in 2000.

In the spring of 2019, Ridder earned one of the highest distinctions in basketball coaching, the NABC Guardians of the Game Award for Leadership. The award, which includes honorees like Eddie Sutton, Harry Statham, Don Meyer and Lorenzo Romar, is awarded to giants of the game that provide moral and ethical leadership on issues affecting the game of basketball and society. Ridder was presented the award at the 2019 NCAA Final Four in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

Ridder is also a highly sought after clinician and speaker at basketball camps, and other organizations worldwide. He has traveled to Belgium, Switzerland and Ireland among others, teaching and coaching the game of basketball, and in the summer of 2007, Ridder earned the distinction of being selected as one of three court coaches for the USA Basketball Men's Pan American Games Team Trials.

In 2004-05, Steve and his wife Vicky were honored by many loyal athletic supporters with the establishment of the Steve and Vicky Ridder Endowed Scholarship. Through fund raised dollars, a scholarship is awarded annually to a student-athlete who best represents the philosophical mode of "Student, Person, Player." Additionally, in 2019, Ridder was again honored by former players and Embry-Riddle supporters with the establishment of the Steve and Vicky Ridder Student-Athlete Transformation Leadership Program and Scholarship.

Several of Ridder's former players have entered into the coaching profession, including son Ryan Ridder, who is the Head Coach at NCAA I University of Tennessee-Martin. Ben Witherspoon is the Head Coach at Dr. Phillips High School in Orlando, Florida, and has developed Dr. Phillips into one of the premier public school basketball programs in the nation. 

Ridder's 740 wins rank 45th all-time amongst men's college basketball coaches, and he became the second-fastest NAIA coach in history to reach 600 victories. He is the second-winningest active NCAA II coach (following the retirement of Herb Magee), and his 740 wins all at one school, rank third among active college coaches. He has guided the Eagles to 20 conference championships, 17 national tournaments, the 2000 NAIA II National Title, 23 20-win seasons, and 5 30-win seasons.

"These kinds of awards are always due to the work and dedication of many individuals that I have been blessed to be associated with for more than 33 years at Embry-Riddle," commented Ridder. "I thank John McCarthy and Small College Basketball for all of their service to, and impact on, the game that we all love."

The purpose of the Harry Statham Coach of Impact Award is to honor a Coach that has used the power of the coaching platform to make a positive impact on players, coaches and others. The Coach will be a person of high character and integrity who has served as an excellent role model, and who has deeply impacted the lives of others.
 
The annual winner of the Harry Statham Coach of Impact Award must have coached at the small college level for a majority of his career, and must have a high degree of personal character and integrity. The Coach may be a current or former Coach, and Small College Basketball will honor a living Coach with this award annually. Ridder is the third recipient of the award, following Bob Burchard of Columbia (Missouri) and Ken Ammann of Concordia-Irvine (California).

The award is named after Harry Statham, former Head Basketball Coach at McKendree University. Coach Statham is a member of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) Basketball Hall of Fame. Upon the conclusion of his 52-year career at McKendree, Coach Statham's 1,122 wins were the most by any men's or women's coach at a four-year college or university in the United States.

"Coach Statham has been the very best model of what our profession is supposed to be," Ridder said. "Coach Statham has earned the highest level of respect in the way he has carried himself with the utmost class, and the way he represented his institution. His dedication to serve student-athletes and impact their lives for 52 years is unmatched, and his longevity of service is simply amazing."