Dave Riddick Inducted into Lacrosse Hall of Fame
All-American Teacher, Coach, and Man
by Clay Wawner, MSA Lax coach & history teacher
In August of 2013, I walked to my office on my first day of work at the Miller School of Albemarle. As I was unlocking the door, I heard this booming, gravelly baritone voice exclaim “alright gang, let’s do some history.” My mind immediately flashed back to my high school lacrosse playing days fifteen years ago, where I heard that exact same voice making defensive commands for one of my school's crosstown rivals. A smile passed across my lips as I opened the door and found Dave Riddick standing at the lectern, doing what he does best, teaching young men and women. Later that day, I went back to Dave’s classroom to ask him if he would coach the lacrosse team with me that upcoming season. As I entered the room, before I could utter a word, Dave looked up from his computer and said, “I know why you’re here, and my answer is YES.”
“The Miller School has revitalized me. I am back teaching the game to young men who enjoy going out every afternoon with a stick in their hands and competing in a game that they may not have ever seen before coming to The Miller School, but it is a game they have come to love. ”
“Hiring Dave Riddick to coach and teach at MSA was like hiring a superhero. Mr. Riddick has uncanny abilities when it comes to imparting knowledge to students and to motivating young people to reach their potential. He is a legend because of his excellence. ”
The name Dave Riddick has been synonymous with the sport of lacrosse in the Central Virginia area for the past forty years. Dave spent his playing days at Lane High School, before heading to Hampden Sydney College where he was elected team captain in his junior and senior seasons. After graduating from Hampden Sydney, Dave worked under his college coach and mentor Howdy Myers, where he learned the zone defense that has been the hallmark of his teams. When Dave left Hampden Sydney, he returned to the Charlottesville area, and has been coaching at the high school level ever since. Dave was the top assistant and defensive coach on four State Championship teams at Saint Anne’s Belfield. He has coached multiple All Americans and countless All State players. I remember in middle school, standing at the fence of the Dogwood Tournament, watching Dave’s zone defense dominate opponents year in and year out.
I am now proud to have the opportunity to coach with Dave at Miller and learn from one of the best teachers I have ever met. What impresses me most about coaching with Dave is not his knowledge of the game and its history, but his ability to connect with young people. Through his honesty, passion and love of the game, Coach Rids earns the love and respect of his players. Dave has the unique ability as a coach to demand excellence from his players, and have them thank him for it later. I have been out to dinner with Rids on numerous occasions and had former players of his come to our table to give him a hug and laugh about memories from their practices and games. For Dave Riddick, coaching is not about wins and losses, but about the relationships you build along the way. It is an honor and a pleasure to coach alongside Rids and to develop a friendship that will last for years to come.
On December 2nd, 2017 Dave will be inducted into the Lacrosse Hall of Fame of Central Virginia and there is no one more deserving of this honor. Dave has not only taught the game of lacrosse with integrity and respect, but through this medium has helped develop boys into young men.
CW
