Head Men's Basketball Coach

Bio

Recognized as one of the nation’s top NCAA Division 1 mid major assistant coaches, Reed Ridder was hired on May 1st, 2026 as Daytona State head men’s basketball Coach.

With Volusia County roots that run deep, Ridder has returned home to continue the winning tradition of past coaches. Most recently Ridder served as assistant coach for the Mercer University Bears for two season (2024-2026). While coaching for the Bears, Mercer’s record was 19-13 in year 2—most regular season wins since joining the SOCON. Finished 2^nd in the SOCON and Ridder recruited 2 All Conference players—Baraka Okojie (1^st team) and Armani Mighty (2^nd team and Defensive Player of the Year)

Prior to his successful run at Mercer, Coach Ridder was the Assistant Coach at the University of Tennessee at Martin for two seasons where the team’s combined record was 40-25. UTM earned OVC regular Season Championship (2023-24), Tied most OVC wins in school history (14-4) and tied most wins in school history (21-11).  The Skyhawks had the second biggest turnaround in UTM history, going from just 8 wins to 19 wins (2021-22 to 2022-23).  Ridder recruited 1^st team All OVC/All Newcomer, Jacob Crews (former DSC Falcon) as well as coaching 5 All-OVC players.

Ridder’s first full time assistant coaching position was with the Daytona State Falcons where he helped launch Coach Joey Cantens successful career both on the court with three All Conference selections and in the classroom where their team GPA was a 3.0.

During the COVID year 2020-21, Ridder landed a position as support staff with Georgia Southern University.  In this role he was responsible for Team travel, daily video operations and monitored the Academic progress of student-athletes.

Prior to Georgia Southern, Ridder served as a Graduate Assistant at the University of Georgia under Coach Tom Crean.  Ridder coached 2 NBA draft picks – Anthony Edwards  (1^st overall pick) and Nicholas Claxton (31^st).

Ridder played professionally for two seasons in Spain (2017-18) and Australia (2016-2017).

As a player, Ridder racked up 1,003 career points at a pair of NCAA Division II universities. He spent his freshman season at Lynn University in Boca Raton, Fla. before transferring to play his final three years for his father Steve Ridder at Embry-Riddle University in Daytona Beach, Fla. The eagles won a Florida Sun Conference Championship as well as a Final Four appearance, Ridder was an integral part of their 35-2 championship run.

An Ormond Beach, Fla. native, Ridder graduated from Embry-Riddle with a degree in business administration in 2016. He later earned his master's degree in sports administration from Georgia in 2020.

Reed Ridder has a basketball pedigree following in the footsteps of his father, legendary Hall of Fame Embry-Riddle Coach (800+ wins) and older brother, Ryan Ridder, current NCAA Division one head coach at Mercer University. 

Reed is married to the former Kamryn Chappell, standout Div I soccer player earning 2021 OVC Defensive Player of the Year.

Ridder Coaching Experience