DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – For one night, the scoreboard took a back seat to family, legacy, and nearly four decades of memories as Embry-Riddle men's basketball welcomed NCAA Division I Mercer to the ICI Center for an exhibition like no other.
On Saturday night, head coach Steve Ridder embarked on his final season at the helm of the program he built, inviting his son and Mercer head coach, Ryan, to Daytona Beach for a special night that celebrated the lasting impact of the Ridder family. While the Bears ultimately claimed a 77-61 victory, the significance of the "Ridder Showdown" extended far beyond the final score.
The evening offered a rare opportunity for father and son to share the court from opposite sidelines. Ryan, a former Eagle who donned the Blue and Gold as a player and a volunteer assistant, returned to Daytona Beach as the head coach of Mercer, bringing his own program back to the place where his collegiate playing career and coaching journey took shape.
Before tip-off, Ryan honored Coach Ridder with a meaningful gesture, presenting his father and mother with a Mercer uniform and a signed basketball in recognition of a career defined by influence and enduring legacy. The moment proved to be a fitting tribute as Coach Ridder begins his final campaign following his September announcement that he would retire at the conclusion of the 2026-27 season.
In addition, the celebration extended beyond the two coaches competing on the court as Daytona State men's basketball and head coach Reed Ridder joined both Embry-Riddle and Mercer's squads for an opportunity to commemorate the occasion. This moment further highlighted and celebrated the relationships and connections that basketball has established across generations, making Saturday night more than a game itself.
Since taking over the Embry-Riddle program in 1989-90, Steve Ridder has transformed the Eagles into a nationally respected small-college basketball power. His résumé includes more than 800 career victories, 20 conference championships, 19 national tournament appearances and the 2000 NAIA Division II national championship. Yet his influence has always reached beyond wins and losses through his signature "Student-Person-Player" philosophy, which emphasizes academic achievement, personal development and athletic excellence.
For Ryan, Saturday's return represented a homecoming to the program that helped shape him as both a player and a coach. After completing his collegiate playing career under his father and earning his bachelor's degree in aerospace studies from Embry-Riddle in 2008, Ryan returned to Daytona Beach as a volunteer assistant in 2009-10. He later coached at Campbell, Daytona State, Bethune-Cookman and UT Martin before being named Mercer's 30th head men's basketball coach in March 2024.
While Mercer departed Daytona Beach with a 77-61 win, the "Ridder Showdown" offered a memorable opening chapter to Steve's final season. The night honored a career built on sustained success, mentorship and relationships, serving as a reminder that a coach's legacy is measured not only in championships and victories, but also in the people he inspires and the family traditions that carry his influence forward.
