John Ridgway joined the UCF women[apos]s track and field program as coach of the throwers in the July 2007.
Specializing in throws and horizontal jumps, Ridgway comes to Orlando after two years at the University of Louisiana-Monroe. During his first year, he guided four student-athletes to indoor all-conference honors, while jumps standout Rani Giladi earned the Southland Conference Outstanding Indoor Field Event Performer of the Meet award. Last season, Ridgway coached four NCAA Regional qualifiers and saw thrower Walt Williams receive Sun Belt Conference Outstanding Field Performer of the Meet recognition. Many of Ridgway[apos]s athletes broke school records and posted personal bests during his tenure. Four Warhawks also qualified for the USA Track and Field Junior Nationals. In his final outdoor season at ULM, he coached three athletes to conference titles and a freshman to the NCAA Regional finals in the triple jump.
Prior to ULM, Ridgway held a similar position at Oklahoma Baptist University, where he was responsible for recruiting and coaching the throwers. In 2005, the Bison won the NAIA Indoor Championship and finished as the NAIA National Outdoor Runner-up.
After being named Outstanding Walk-On at the University of Oklahoma, Ridgway transferred to the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill. At UNC, He was two-year letterwinner and earned All-Atlantic Coast Conference honors in both 2000 and 2001.
[quote]I am excited to have someone with John[apos]s recruiting expertise and work ethic join the UCF staff,[quote] said Caryl Smith Gilbert. [quote]His experience as a standout athlete at UNC and coach at Louisiana-Monroe will aid us moving forward as we develop a respective throwing tradition at UCF.[quote]
A USATF Level 2 certified coach, Ridgway holds a bachelor[apos]s degree in economics from UNC.