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Iowa High School Hall of Famer Curt Ritchie, who grew up in Deep River, has been named Cornell College's new head football coach as announced earlier by Director of Athletics Jeff Meeker.
Ritchie goes to the Hilltop with 32 years of head coaching experience, including an exceptional 24-year run at Williamsburg High School where he built the Raiders into a perennial state power.
"We are incredibly excited to have Curt Ritchie join our team as the next head football coach at Cornell," Meeker said. "Curt is a community builder and a coach who cares deeply about his student-athletes on and off the field. He is well connected and respected. Curt’s track record of success speaks for itself.”
When asked about being called a community builder, Ritchie said that is nice, especially coming from a man like Jeff Meeker.
“We have a common goal to build relationships with people,” he said.
Ritchie grew up in Deep River and is 1987 graduate of Deep River-Millersburg High School. He graduated from the University of Iowa in 1991 with a bachelor's degree in elementary education.
Ritchie earned a master's in educational leadership/administration from Drake University in 2008.
“I’m very proud of growing up in Deep River,” said Ritchie. “My hometown is something I’m very proud of. I learned how to respect people and work hard. Those are two values that are important to any career.”
Ritchie began his football coaching career in 1993 as an assistant at English Valleys and took over as head coach after four years on staff. He directed his teams to 23 playoff appearances in the past 25 years, capped by a Class 3A state championship with Williamsburg in 2023, the school’s first.
Ritchie is owner of 245 career wins while at English Valleys (1993-2000) and Williamsburg (2001-2024). He was inducted into the Iowa Football Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 2024.
Ritchie fashioned an impressive 204-62 record at Williamsburg. The Raiders qualified for the playoffs in each of his final 17 seasons there.
Williamsburg advanced to the UNI-Dome (Final Four) seven years and played in the state championship game four times (2023, 2022, 2017, 2002).
Ritchie took English Valleys to the 2000 state quarterfinals in his eighth and final season there.
He was named the 2022 Class 3A State Coach of the Year. The following season, he guided Williamsburg to its first football state title.
"I think having success is a choice. You have to work for it," Ritchie said.
"At Cornell, people will see a confident bunch of guys who play fast and with great passion. We will be tough mentally and physically. We'll try to get better every day and that's what I'll ask my staff to do. Be humble, be driven and love Cornell College. My goal is to make the team understand what Cornell football is going to be."
Ritchie is ready for a new challenge at Cornell. The Rams are coming off their first back-to-back .500 seasons since 2016. Last year's team finished 5-5 overall, 5-4 in the Midwest Conference.
"This is something I’ve envisioned for a long time. The timing is definitely right," Ritchie said.
"To me, it's always been about the people. From my initial connections on campus, Cornell felt like a perfect fit. I was really awed by the people and the vision."
Several of Ritchie's players have gone on to compete collegiately. Offensive lineman Austin Blythe (Iowa) played in Super Bowl LIII. Return specialist Kaden Wetjen (Iowa) earned 2024 All-America honors with the Hawkeyes.
"I want to build a football family where everybody has a love for it, so much that they want to see it continue and help it grow anyway they can," Ritchie said. "It all comes down to the people and making connections. Make people want to be here, and that's what we're excited to build."
While at Williamsburg, Ritchie also served as elementary teacher (2001-07), activities director (2007-18) and transportation director (2018-23). He was head softball coach for the Raiders for seven seasons, highlighted by a state tournament appearance in 1995.
Ritchie retired from coaching in December following the 2023 football season and winning the Class 3A football championship.
When asked what he enjoyed the most about teaching and coaching young people, Ritchie said watching their growth from the time he met them until the time they graduated.
“I don’t feel like I’ve had to work a day in my life,” he said.
Ritchie and his wife, Kim, have four children and four grandchildren. The couple will remain in Williamsburg.
“I have too many grandkids and friends to leave,” Ritchie said.
In addition to his long teaching and coaching career, Ritchie is co-owner of Legacy Acres Hunting Club in Parnell, a 600-acre, pristine upland hunting ground. The facility currently offers pheasant, chukar and quail hunting along with exceptional lodging and an event center.
"We can't wait to have Curt on campus,” noted Meeker. “I know he's ready to get to work on building a championship program here at Cornell."
“It’s a new challenge at this point in my life to try something different,” Ritchie said.