CIU welcomed Steven Ridings to its baseball coaching staff in 2025 as an assistant coach, where he works primarily with the Rams’ pitching staff.
Ridings arrives at CIU after serving as the head assistant coach and pitching coach at the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor during the 2025 season. At UMHB, he managed the pitching staff through daily practice plans, in-game strategy, and player development while also handling recruiting efforts across Texas. He additionally coordinated team travel and budget planning, and invested in the spiritual growth of his players by leading weekly Bible studies.
Before his time in Texas, Ridings returned to his alma mater, Messiah University, as an assistant coach from 2021–24. He helped guide the Falcons’ pitching staff to one of the most successful seasons in program history in 2024, highlighted by 35 wins and national rankings in ERA (23rd) while setting program records in innings pitched, strikeouts, and appearances. Ridings also gained coaching experience in the Valley Baseball League with the Purcellville Cannons in the summer of 2023, where he oversaw pitchers from NCAA Division I, II, III, and junior college programs.
A former professional pitcher, Ridings spent seven years in the pro ranks, including time with the Seattle Mariners organization after being selected in the 29th round of the 2016 MLB Draft. He advanced through every level of the Mariners’ system up to Triple-A Tacoma before continuing his career in the Frontier League with the Southern Illinois Miners (2018–21) and the Gateway Grizzlies (2022). Across his professional career, he logged 297 innings with 275 strikeouts and 19 wins.
As a collegiate pitcher at Messiah, Ridings was a four-year starter who tallied 243 strikeouts and a 2.80 ERA over 270 innings. He earned MAC Pitcher of the Year, First Team All-MAC, and First Team All-Mid-Atlantic Region honors as a senior.
Ridings holds a B.A. in Sport Management (2016) and a Master of Arts in Intercollegiate Athletic Leadership (2024), both from Messiah University. Originally from Harwood, Maryland, he and his wife Julia have two daughters, Hallie and Karissa.
