Williamsburg’s Curt Ritchie is The Gazette’s 2023 football coach of the year

WILIAMSBURG — Football and family.

Williamsburg Coach Curt Ritchie has merged both into a cornerstone of a successful program and coaching career. They also have served up some memorable moments in his life.

Take his wedding day in 1989 when Ritchie and his wife, Kim, attended a high school game — in tuxedo and wedding dress — between the ceremony and their reception.

Ritchie also recalled the birth of his youngest son, Cade, who was born on a game day. He said Kim was more concerned about him getting to the game. So, Ritchie went from the hospital to Center Point to make the game.

Ritchie laughed as he reflected on two interactions with his 7-year-old grandson, Reed, during this year’s Class 3A state title game. Reed approached “Papa” to let him know he was confident the Raiders were going to win, leading Sioux City Heelan 20-0. He also asked to have a sleepover during a timeout.

Football and family are intertwined in Ritchie’s life.

“I don’t know if I can put it into words,” Ritchie said. “I think the big thing is we tell our kids all the time there is no one more supportive than their family. Appreciate them and treat them correctly. Let them know you care about them.”

The approach has yielded a winning formula for the Raiders. Ritchie guided Williamsburg to a 12-1 record and the Class 3A state title, garnering The Gazette’s 2023 area football Coach of the Year award.

“I was really happy for the guys,” Ritchie said. “Not only this team but those that had done it before. I told some of the players from the past teams they were a big part of it. If they don’t buy into it or year in and year out or in the middle of this whole thing, it goes wrong.

“It took everybody. Besides the team, I was happy for the community, in general. I’m thankful these people have traveled well and always supported us. They’ve given us whatever they can.”

Ritchie finished his 30th season as a head coach, first with his alma mater English Valleys and now with Williamsburg. He owns a career mark of 231-90, qualifying for the playoffs 22 times including the last 16 seasons.

“Playing for Coach Ritchie is awesome,” said all-stater and University of Iowa signee Derek Weisskopf, The Gazette’s co-player of the year. “He is always positive whenever you are talking to him or when he’s coaching.

“When I got to Williamsburg my freshman year, I knew Ritchie was a great coach. He knows the game of football so much and has brought in the right coaches to teach us.”

Despite moving up a class, he led the Raiders to a second straight championship game. They handled Sioux City Heelan, 20-0, in the final. Ritchie added one more feat to an outstanding resume.

“He coached for so many years and got close so many times,” said all-state linebacker Rayce Heitman, The Gazette’s defensive player of the year. “So, he deserved this one more than anyone else.”

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Weisskopf said the way the team practices has been another key factor in the Raiders’ success. It all starts at the top.

“The commitment he has to every team I was on was incredible,” Weisskopf said. “He surrounds himself with great coaches that help him win games and just cares about each and every one of his players.”

Ritchie has created a perennial power at Williamsburg. He took over the Raiders in 2001 and helped them to their only title, three state runner-up finishes and 21 of the school’s 24 postseason appearances.

“Curt is not only a hall of fame coach but a hall of fame friend,” longtime friend and former defensive coordinator Grant Eckenrod said. “No one deserves a state title more than him. It’s more than just Xs and Os. It’s about people and relationships. He still hears from kids he has coached in the past and that’s more important than any state title.

“The bond built through coaching young people and the impact you can have is what matters. I can guarantee you the title is just icing on the cake.”

Past classes are invited back each year. This year, the 2002 runner-up team returned, including its quarterback Casey O’Rourke, who is the principal at Spirit Lake High School. Ritchie received confirmation that the program’s tenets have remained constant.

“He came a day early and watched practice and things,” Ritchie said. “What came back to him right away was just how that family presence still hasn’t changed.

“The biggest change for them when I came here was how important (family) was. He said it came back to him and he realized it, so him putting it into words made me realize it more.”

Surrounded by family

Ritchie’s coaching career is a family affair. Kim has been by his side from the start and even roams the sidelines as the team’s statistician. She has served as his biggest supporter and has done a lot behind the scenes for him to impact others through coaching.

“She’s done it all,” Ritchie said. “It’s been a fun journey.”

Their sons, Gavin and Cade, played for their dad. Cade is a current assistant. Former Raider, Iowa Hawkeye and NFL lineman Austin Blythe joined the staff this season. Blythe is his married to Ritchie’s daughter, Kiley, and is the father of Reed.

“It’s good to share it with them,” said Ritchie, whose daughter Sadie joined Kiley as program water girls and camp helpers. “I’m probably a little harder on them (Cade and Austin) on the sideline than I would be the rest of my coaches. Just like we all are, probably. We’re hardest on those closest to us. That can happen.

“Both have taken to coaching. They have their heart into it. It’s important to them.”

Ritchie has encouraged his staff to include their families. He said it has been neat to watch the kids of other coaches grow up and have the next generation of kids buzzing around the program. Ritchie said things have come full circle, mentioning Clayton Thurm was born a few days after the first playoff game he coached and now Thurm is on his staff.

“It’s nice to be at a place that allows that to happen,” Ritchie said. “Some people wouldn’t allow it because they see it as a distraction, but I think it’s what has allowed us to keep coaches for a long time.

“Some of these guys have been with me since I was at English Valleys. I’ve watched their kids get older and grow up and some are coaching with me now.”

Jims and Joes over Xs and Os

Blythe resides in Williamsburg after retiring from the NFL. He has received congratulatory messages from community members excited about the Raiders’ championship run. Blythe has the same response that highlights Ritchie’s attitude.

“Curt will never say it’s about winning games but I’m so glad he finally was able to win a state championship,” Blythe said. “I think that is the epitome of who he is as a coach. He’s about relationships and growth in his players above anything else, especially winning.”

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Blythe also said he has been around some great coaches, playing for Kirk Ferentz and Pete Carroll among others. He said Ritchie is as good as anyone relating to players and getting the most out of their talents.

Ritchie has a good rapport with players, motivating them to give their all.

“It’s awesome to have Ritchie as a coach,” Heitman said. “His relationship with his players is definitely something that makes people want to play and succeed for him.”

Earlier this week, Ritchie prepared for the team’s end-of-season banquet Sunday. The honors and accomplishments will be lauded, but Ritchie expects to take pride in the gains the players have made on and off the field since their freshman year. Even earlier for some.

“To see their growth and how they have grown as people, in the end I think that’s what brings me back,” Ritchie said. “Just the love for those kids.”

Williamsburg’s golden season

Not only was this the crowning achievement for Ritchie but it was the first football title for Williamsburg. The Raiders did it in spectacular fashion, shutting out the Crusaders in the final after avenging their only loss with a 45-14 semifinal victory over Solon.

The Raiders also beat 4A quarterfinalist Cedar Rapids Xavier in Week 2 and survived a 38-35 thriller in the quarterfinals over returning state finalist Mount Vernon.

“This team made finishing important from the very beginning of the year, whether talking about finishing practice with something strong, each game, each half and each quarter,” Ritchie said. “As I’ve been looking at it, they just finished really well. They were strong throughout the playoffs.”

The regular-season loss to Solon presented a fork in the road. Ritchie is credited with righting the ship and unifying them for a common purpose.

“He did a really good job of bringing that team back together because of his message of unity, playing for the guy next to you and all that stuff,” Blythe said. “It worked. From that game on, we just started to dominate. It was about the excitement for one another, picking guys up when they’re down … He emphasizes all those things.”

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The loss also provided another opportunity to teach life lessons. A loss isn’t the end of the world, according to Ritchie. The Raiders worked on their mistakes and improved for the rematch, which was crucial in the title run.

“You can learn from it,” Ritchie said. “We talk about life is hard. There are going to be some things you have to show some grit to work through and believe in. They’ve been there.”

Make no mistake, this team owned plenty of riches. The Raiders had five all-state selections — 3A captain Weisskopf, receivers Braylon Wetjen and Clayten Steckley, Heitman and lineman Braden Plotz. Williamsburg scored 39.1 points per game, while allowing just 13.3.

“They were tremendous and good at practice every day,” Ritchie said. “They were fun. We could have practiced all school year because every night was so fun.

“They had fun together and got to work hard. It was where you hope you get the culture every year. They got there and just bonded and played for each other.”

Comments: kj.pilcher@thegazette.com