Peru State College Women's Golf

Ritchie, has been selected to lead the Bobcat womens golf program starting this fall. Peru State athletic director Steve Schneider announced the hiring of Ritchie of Nebraska City , who recently retired from teaching and coaching at the Nebraska City Public Schools in 2014.   Ritchie will take the reins from another Nebraska Citian, Brett Hahn, who recently resigned due to taking a new position in Omaha. Schneider thanked Hahn for his service and stated, Coach Hahn did an excellent job during his four years as the head coach of our program. During his time, the team dramatically improved and was considered as a contender annually in our conference meets. We wish him the best of luck in his new endeavor.   With over 30 years of coaching experience altogether, and 20 years of golf coaching at three different high schools, Schneider is pleased to have been able to hire Ritchie. Schneider said, Peru State is very fortunate to have been able to find a quality replacement in Coach Ritchie. His wealth of coaching experience and his knowledge of the game will lend itself well to leading the Bobcat womens golf team.   A University of Nebraska-Lincoln graduate with a degree in social science education, Ritchie began his teaching and coaching experience in Falls City. Ritchie was the boys golf coach for the Tigers and had several individuals qualify for the state tournament. The Elkhorn Public School system was the next stop for Ritchie where he established the girls golf program that had five consecutive teams qualify for the state tournament. His final teaching and coaching stop was at Nebraska City where he also coached the girls golf team. At all three schools, Ritchie was also the head boys basketball coach where he developed competitive teams while playing at the Class B levels. In both sports, Ritchie focused on the fundamentals while instilling motivation into his teams. In addition, Ritchie has coached in several all-star games and has been a coach in the Nebraska Basketball Development Association.   I am honored and thrilled to have the opportunity to build upon the success that Coach Brett Hahn has brought to the womens golf program, Ritchie said. Continuing, he added, We want our achievements to be on the golf course, in the community, and in the classroom so we can represent Peru State College well.   Ritchie and his wife, Mary, live in Nebraska City and have three grown children Monte, Jill, and Max. Incidentally, Monte earned his masters degree at Peru State while serving as a graduate assistant for the mens basketball program.  

Peru State athletic director Wayne Albury recently announced the hiring of Sue Owen as the new Bobcat women’s head golf coach. Owen began her duties late this summer.   Albury noted, “We are pleased to have been able to hire someone with the experience of Coach Owen to head up our women’s golf program. Her previous experience and her high character will be of benefit of the women in our Bobcat golf program.”   Graduating in 1973 with a bachelor degree in elementary education from Missouri Western State University, she started her teaching career as the K-6 Special Education teacher at Maysville (Mo.) School. Owen went back to school and graduated from Northwest Missouri State University with her masters in learning disabilities in 1979.  After having a few more teaching experiences, she landed in Rock Port, Mo., where she taught since 1983.   Owen is currently the Blue Jays’ girl’s golf coach. In addition, she coached the girl’s golf team at Rock Port from 1984-1994 as well as from 2001-2008. Another coaching experience includes being an assistant volleyball coach from 1994-1997. From 1994-1999 she was the athletic director for the Blue Jays. During her years as a coach she has had nine individual state golf qualifiers and two team state golf qualifiers.   In her free time, she enjoys playing golf, sewing, reading, and attending high school and college sporting events. To her, the most important thing is spending time with her husband Ron, her two children Brady Owen and Brandi Gipson, as well as granddaughter Isla.   Owen is ready to get started with the Bobcat team. She commented, “I am excited for this new journey. I look forward to watching these ladies grow as a team and grow academically. This season's roster may be small, but we will be mighty.” Because of the double coaching duty, the Bobcats and Blue Jays will attend some practices together this fall. It will give them an opportunity to play on a different course than they are used to and gain experience.   Senior golfer Emily Whipple (Lincoln) is looking forward to having Owen as her new coach. Whipple commented, “I’m really looking forward to working with Coach Owen. I believe her background in golf and her passion for the sport will be a great asset to our team."