Mercer University athletics officials announced March 15 that 15-year collegiate coaching veteran Ryan Ridder has been named as the men’s basketball program’s 30th head coach.
Ridder comes to Middle Georgia after leading the University of Tennessee at Martin to 48 victories over the last three seasons, including a 21-11 mark in 2023-24. He has amassed a 191-120 record in nine seasons as a head coach — a career that includes previous head-coaching stops at both Daytona State and Bethune-Cookman.
“I could not be more excited to welcome Ryan, his wife Jen, and their children to the Mercer family,” Mercer Athletics Director Jim Cole said. “Coach Ridder has shown throughout his career that he excels in skill development, which will help bring out the best in our returning student-athletes. I’m also confident that our fans will be energized by the brand of basketball that he will bring to Hawkins Arena.”
Mercer had announced on March 11 that it would not renew the contract of former men’s basketball head coach Greg Gary.
