Curt Ritchie named Cornell College’s new head football coach

MOUNT VERNON – Curt Ritchie is embracing a new challenge.

After more than three decades coaching winning teams and standout players in high school football, the former Williamsburg head coach will move to the college level.

Cornell announced Wednesday that Ritchie will be the Rams’ new head football coach, replacing Dan Pifer, who is not returning after five seasons at the helm. Cornell went 5-5 overall and 5-4 in the Midwest Conference last season, posting consecutive .500 seasons in nine years.

“This is something I envisioned for a long time,” said Ritchie, who was The Gazette’s 2023 Prep Football Coach of the Year. “The timing is definitely right. To me, it’s always been about the people. From my initial connections on campus, Cornell felt like a perfect fit. I was really awed by the people and the vision.”

Ritchie merged family with football in Williamsburg. His tight-knit group produced success every year, including 22 playoff appearances and the 2023 Class 3A state championship with a 20-0 victory over Sioux City Heelan.

“We are incredibly excited to have Curt Ritchie join our team as the next head football coach at Cornell,” Cornell Athletics Director Jeff Meeker said in a news release. “Curt is a community builder and a coach who cares deeply about his student-athletes on and off the field. He is well connected and respected. Curt’s track record of success speaks for itself.

“We can’t wait to have Curt on campus. I know he’s ready to get to work on building a championship program here at Cornell.”

Ritchie was recently inducted into the Iowa Football Coaches Association Hall of Fame. He coached 32 seasons, consisting of eight at English Valleys (1993-2000) and the last 24 at Williamsburg (2001-2024). Ritchie compiled a 238-93 career record, according to the Iowa High School Athletic Association record book and Bound.

Ritchie informed Williamsburg assistant coaches and his player earlier Wednesday. The Raiders will have some big shoes to fill on the practice field and sideline.

“Coach Ritchie has been a tremendous leader for our football program and community for the past 24 years,” said Williamsburg Activities Director Nathan King, who will have to begin a search for Ritchie’s replacement. “There’s nobody that talks and shows the importance of community quite like Coach Ritchie. We are blessed that he and Mrs. Ritchie will still be in Williamsburg as lifelong Raiders, while leading the Cornell football program.”

Ritchie led English Valleys to its first postseason in 2000 before taking over at Williamsburg. He guided the Raiders to the playoffs in each of his last 17 seasons, reaching the state semifinals seven times. Williamsburg were finalists in 2002, 2017, 2022 and 2023.

Ritchie’s players succeed in college, including former Iowa and NFL lineman Austin Blythe and current Hawkeye Kaden Wetjen, who was honored as the nation’s top return specialist last season. He’s also developed other NCAA Division I talent, including Derek Weisskopf and Rayce Heitman.

He will attempt to transfer his accomplished career to a different level.

“I think having success is a choice. You have to work for it,” Ritchie said in a news release. “At Cornell, people will see a confident bunch of guys who play fast and with great passion. We will be tough mentally and physically. We’ll try to get better every day and that’s what I’ll ask my staff to do. Be humble, be driven and love Cornell College. My goal is to make the team understand what Cornell football is going to be.”

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