Manlius Pebble Hill’s Don Ridall receives coaching honor

Manlius Pebble Hill soccer coach and athletics director Don Ridall was named 2013-14 Coach of the Year by the Blind Men & Criers, a local sports association made up of referees and coaches.

Ridall received the John Arcaro Memorial Coaches Award in recognition of his 38-year career coaching boys varsity soccer.

In 2011, Ridall won his 500th career game, and he has more Section III wins than all but one other area coach. He has led the MPH varsity soccer team to two state titles and six Section III championships. He was honored in 2001 as NSCAA Coach of the Year and in 2003 was inducted into the SUNY Cortland Hall of Fame.

The award was presented several weeks ago. The late Arcaro, coincidentally, was Ridall’s track coach at Baldwinsville High School.

Former winners of the award include West Genesee lacrosse coach Mike Messere and CBA basketball coach Buddy Wleklinski.