Dr. John Ritzen was hired as the Chadron State women's golf coach in August 2016.
Under Ritzen’s direction, the Eagles have broken every team and individual scoring record. They have won three tournaments as a team and hold three individual titles as well. In 2024, Chadron State finished sixth at the RMAC Women's Golf Championships, the program's highest recorded finish since 2007.
In addition to coaching, Ritzen is currently an associate professor in the HPER department at CSC teaching primarily sport management courses. He is certified through the Titleist Performance Institute (TPI) and also a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS) through the National Strength and Conditioning Association. Ritzen is a former golf instructor at Ridgeview Country Club in Chadron, where he worked for six years giving lessons and helping with the junior golf program.
Prior to taking the helm of the women's golf program, Ritzen was an assistant coach with the CSC track and field program, where he was primarily responsible for coaching jumps. In his final season alone, CSC had two NCAA champion long jumpers, Stachia Reuwsaat and Damarcus Simpson, who each earned a runner-up finish as well with indoor and outdoor seasons combined. Both jumpers competed well at the U.S. Track and Field Olympic Trials, accompanied and coached by Ritzen.
A Chadron native, Ritzen is a 2010 CSC graduate and also received his master's degree from the school in December 2012. He completed his Ed.D in Sports Management from the United States Sports Academy in the summer of 2018.
Ritzen is married to the former Cassandra Humphrey, who is a CSC marketing professor and former CSC softball player. John and Cassie have two children, Wade and Vivian.
