Ritter brings history of success to Decatur High football
Jan. 24—The new Red Raiders head football coach said he was attracted by the program's rich tradition, and he looks forward to the challenge of returning the team to gridiron success.
John Ritter, formerly the head coach at Russellville, was selected as Decatur High's coach at a special called meeting of the Decatur City Board of Education on Tuesday.
"As we started this process we started to think of what we wanted in a new coach," said Decatur High School Principal Leslie Russell. "We wanted somewhere that could carry on the tradition we have here at Decatur and someone with good character.
"When we were calling around and checking references, it became apparent that Coach Ritter checked all those boxes. We heard he was a great father, great husband and great coach and someone that could instill those values in our kids."
He also helps programs win games.
"He's had success everywhere he's been, and we believe he can come here and have that same success," Russell said.
Ritter comes to Decatur after six seasons at Russellville, where he compiled a 52-19 record with four region championships and five playoff wins. He's also had stops at West Morgan and Red Bay and has an overall coaching record of 85-42.
Ritter's dad, Ronald, was an assistant at Decatur from 1986-91 under Steve Rivers.
Ritter said there was a simple explanation for why he was willing to leave Russellville, another traditional north Alabama powerhouse.
"I think it's a situation where the vision here from top to bottom — superintendent to principal to booster club to the community — it's all aligned," Ritter said. "To be a part of a tradition-rich program like Decatur and help bring the success that Decatur is used to, it was too good an opportunity to pass up."
Ritter is known for taking struggling programs and restoring them to traditional success. When he took over at West Morgan, the Rebels were coming off three straight losing seasons in which they won just a combined two games. After an 0-10 season in his first year, Ritter improved the team to 7-4 in his second season and then 10-2 in his third.
He then jumped to Russellville, which was coming off a 3-7 season, it's worst mark in 20 years. In his first season Ritter led the team to a 9-2 record.
Decatur has also seen its fair share of struggles in recent years. The Red Raiders have had losing seasons in four of the last five years, including a 3-7 record this past year.
Ritter believes he can come in and get the program back on track.
"I like going into pressure-packed situations; that's where I feel most comfortable," Ritter said. "I've been places in the past that were sort of on a downward trend and we were able to come in and build a foundation and a championship experience. That's our goal, to create an experience that players at the school want to be a part of."
Ritter, who replaces Aairon Savage after just one season, is the school's 12th head coach. He's just the seventh since 1933, with four of the previous six lasting at least 14 seasons.
"That's something that drew me and my family here. Longevity is something that's kind of gone to the wayside in this business," Ritter said.
As he prepares for the new challenge, Ritter outlined what Decatur will be getting in its new head coach:
"I think they're going to get a guy that's bought into everything, a guy that works hard, that cares about kids and someone that pushes kids to maximize their potential. They're going to get all those things in our staff, not just me."
Ritter and his wife, Lauren, have a 9-year-old daughter, Lillian, and a 5-year-old son, Lincoln.
—caleb.suggs@decaturdaily.com or 256-340-2395. Twitter @CalebSuggs2
