The school administration backed the coach, but, he said, he had had enough of the obstacles.
“He did a great job for our kids,” said Debbie Bentler, Ridgefield’s athletic director. “I knew when I first met him, he’s the type of guy you want working with your kids. I respect his decision to not come back. We’ll miss a lot of qualities he brings. Hopefully we’ll find a coach who can continue building on what he’s built.”
Ridgefield was forced to play a number of sophomores in 2013 — Andersen’s second season — and the Spudders went 0-9. He told those players that if they continued to work hard, they would have success.
Sure enough, as seniors, that group won their first five games of 2015 season and held league-champion Hockinson to its lowest point total of the year in a 17-7 Hockinson victory.
Ridgefield would complete the regular season 8-1 before losing in overtime in a playoff game to determine a berth to the state playoffs. Those eight wins were the most for Ridgefield since the Spudders went 9-2 in 2005.
Andersen said he made a point to tell his players at the post-season banquet that his decision to leave had nothing to do with them.
“I love the boys. I’ll continued to do whatever I can possibly do for them,” Andersen said.
The same is true with the assistant coaches.
“They’re awesome guys,” Andersen said.
Andersen said he would be interested in coaching again one day.
