Following the retirement of Santa Fe College basketball head coach Chris Mowry, coach John Ritzdorf was hired in the 2024-25 season to continue Mowry’s 21-year legacy.
Named head basketball coach on May 10, 2024, Ritzdorf came from Central Community College in Columbus, Nebraska, where he was a three-time Region 9 Coach of the Year.
During his first season at Santa Fe, Ritzdorf led the team to an 11-20 record, recruited top local prospects and brought the team just one game shy of a playoff spot.
Now, the Saints stand at an impressive 13-4 record midway through the 2025-26 season as of Jan. 20. Last season, they scored 72.8 points per game on average, and as of Jan. 20 of this season, they are scoring at an 88.2 points per game average. They’re scoring about 16 more points per game than they were at the same time last year.
“This year, he has really gotten to put his feet down, and he has just been able to help us more, ” said freshman guard Palmer Walton.
Walton said last season was difficult because it was a new school for Ritzdorf. But now, he said, the coach has found his groove.
Ritzdorf agreed the team made progress as the 2024-25 season went on. After a difficult start to the season, which included injuries and adjusting to a new coach, the players still managed to improve.
“The fact that we really improved throughout the season and ended up being that close to making the postseason was a moment where I really felt like we had the program going in the right direction,” Ritzdorf said.
While the team may have had a rough start during Ritzdorf’s first season, coaches and players worked hard to finish the season off right.
At the end of the 2024-25 season, the Saints had an All-Florida College System Activities Association First Team selection. Five players signed to play at four-year schools and four became FCSAA Division I Men's Basketball Player of the Week athletes, an award given to players with outstanding performances.
Ritzdorf said he sees the job as a rewarding experience. He appreciates seeing his players graduate, advance to four-year teams and fit into their new environments, he said.
Between walk-ons and recruits, the team had 12 new players join this season.
Going into his second season, Ritzdorf no longer has to endure the off-court demands that come with being a brand new addition.
Last season, the Saints lost to Florida Gateway College twice, once at home. This year’s team beat Florida Gateway 84-71, showing how far it has come.
“Looking back 12 months ago, we were getting blasted by this team,” Ritzdorf said. “So that was kind of a moment where it's like, hey, we have come a long way, and we can be proud of the things that we've accomplished.”
Ritzdorf said he hopes to continue to watch the team flourish.
Alex Pierre-Louis, an 18-year-old business major and freshman guard, said he bonded with Ritzdorf because they were both fresh to Santa Fe.
“Since it is new to him, and it is also new to me, it makes me feel as though we're both new to this, and it just makes me feel more comfortable,” Pierre-Louis said.
Moses Horne, a 20-year-old business major and sophomore guard, said he appreciates how Ritzdorf works with the team to constantly do better.
Horne said Ritzdorf always ensures he corrects what went wrong after a game loss. The players have specifically worked on keeping their momentum in the second half.
Horne said he likes Ritzdorf’s winning attitude.
“He cares to win,” Horne said. “That's big for me, honestly — just caring to win.”
Contact Lilianne Fernandez at lfernandez@alligator.org. Follow her on X @ltfernandez8.
