Missouri State

DR. RHONDA RIDINGER
Field Hockey Coach, 1971-90
Inducted May 10, 1987

For nearly two decades, Dr. Rhonda Ridinger was the driving force behind the Missouri State field hockey team, including 18 years as the team's head coach. Ridinger compiled a career record of 281-101-20. In 1979, she led the Bears to a perfect conference record and led the Bears to a 28-2-1 overall mark (with 23 shutouts) on the way to an AIAW national championship. The next year, MSU won a school-record 29 games and finished as national runners-up. Between 1977 and 1981, the Bears reeled off five straight 20-win seasons with three appearances in the national tournament. She was named MAIAW All-Sports Coach of the Year in 1980 and earned Missouri State's first “Teaching in Excellence Award." Ridinger was also selected as chairperson of the National Coaching Committee of the U.S. Field Hockey Association and achieved a level one coaching certificate for the USFHA.

A native of Braddock, Pa., Ridinger graduated from Slippery Rock State College in 1970 and earned her master’s at the University of Arkansas in 1971 before earning a doctorate from Ohio State.