Coach Ritter talks to the team after a win against Hamilton this season.
Bob Ritter '82, The Michael G. Heinecken Head Coach of Football, has stepped down from the helm of the program after 22 seasons as he transitions to a new role as assistant director of athletics.
Director of Athletics Erin Quinn '86 expressed gratitude for Ritter's leadership during his long tenure at Middlebury.
"Coach Ritter is an exceptional teacher and tactical coach, and he has sustained a culture of excellence and integrity in the football program over his career," Quinn said. "We are fortunate that he will stay on as an assistant director of athletics, and I look forward to working with him as he embarks on this new stage in his career."
Ritter said he is grateful for the new opportunity at Middlebury––and for all who have supported him along the way.
"Not all people get to find a place that they can call a second home, and Middlebury College has not only felt like that for me, but it has also been that for my whole family," said Ritter, whose wife, Sue '83, and their children: Katie '15, Chrissy '16 and Bobby '19, all graduated from Middlebury. Daughters Katie and Chrissy played on the women's lacrosse team, while son Bobby played football for Ritter. "Being able to share this experience with my family––and form lifelong friendships with many of my colleagues and players––has been so special to me."
As previously announced, Ritter––a three-time NESCAC Coach of the Year––concludes his career with an impressive 112-61 record. During his tenure, Ritter led the program to a trio of conference championships (2007, 2013, 2019) and wrapped up his final season as the NESCAC Runner-Up with a 7-2 mark. A 2007 finalist for the AFCA Coach of the Year Award, Ritter has mentored four All-Americans, two CoSIDA Academic All-Americans, 167 All-NESCAC selections, nine NESCAC Player of the Year honorees and five conference rookie of the year recipients. Notably, Ritter coached Stephen Hauschka '07, who went on to play in the National Football League (NFL) for over 12 years, including two Super Bowl appearances and one ring in 2014.
"People don't stay in roles like this unless they feel supported and valued, and I have always felt that at Middlebury. It's rare that you would only have two football coaches over the course of 50 years," Ritter said.
"I am looking forward to my next chapter in this incredible athletic department, where I will continue to give back to Middlebury in every way I can. As I ask my players to do, I hope in some small way I've left the program a little better than I found it."
Middlebury will share information about succession plans for the next head coach in the coming days.