Randy Ricedorf arrived to the Show Low High School football program in Arizona at the right time.
In his first year as head coach of the program in 2007, Ricedorf directed Show Low, located on the north end of Phoenix, to a 13-1 record and the Class 3A state championship. Show Low also won the state title in 1999 and 2003.
In the 2007 state championship game at Arizona Stadium, Show Low defeated Coolidge 26-0 thanks to three third-quarter touchdowns, including two by the defense.
Ricedorf took over a team that was 10-2 in 2006. Previously, he had coached at Trevor Browne High School in central Phoenix. Over two seasons, the team struggled to a 3-17 record. Before that, Ricedorf was an assistant coach at Mesa Community College and had four years of experience as a high school assistant coach. Ricedorf was in the process of trying to turn around the Trevor Browne program when he got the call from Show Low.
"They provided me with an opportunity," Ricedorf said. "Show Low has always been competitive. The administrative support is unbelievable. Football is a high priority there. The administration gives us everything we need to have success."
Ricedorf, who was born and raised in Mesa, couldn't resist the opportunity to come to Show Low.
"They had a lot of players coming back from the previous year when they went to the state quarterfinals," Ricedorf said. "But we had to replace a lot of skilled kids. We were picked to finish fifth in our regional. Not much was expected of us. But that's what happens."
Ricedorf also had to help the team get through some offseason turmoil.
"During the spring, the mother of one of our linebackers was killed in a traffic accident," he said. "We had to overcome that. We had a good team chemistry-wise. We had a three-year quarterback and it all kind of came together."
The title showdown against Coolidge capped a remarkable debut for the new coach.
"We felt confident going into that game," Ricedorf said. "We play in a tough region. We played Blue Ridge in the semifinals and beat them 17-7. But that was the only team that beat us in the regular season (28-0)."
Show Low overcame a stout wind in the semifinal rematch against Blue Ridge.
"In that game, we played against a 60 mile-an-hour wind, which was unbelievable," Ricedorf said. "It seemed like everything was dictated by the wind. But it wasn't going to deny us a championship. Blue Ridge had beaten Coolidge earlier in the year. So when we came up against Coolidge, we had reason to be confident."
Ricedorf is confident that he's on the verge of developing a dynasty at Show Low.
"The 2008 season will be a very challenging one for our players," Ricedorf said. "We have a lot of young kids coming here who are still unproven and haven't played varsity. But they're good athletes. They're good, but they're unproven.
"We have five times as many kids in our program as we did the year before. This year, on paper, we're young but we'll only get stronger. In school, we have a fifth-hour football class of 55 to 60 kids. They're working their tails off. We're very confident of where our program is going."
The Show Low program brings with it a sense of pride.
"It's a football coach's dream," Ricedorf said. "Our side of the stands is always full. The community really supports the kids."
Story courtesy of Red Line Editorial, Inc.