Hall of Fame
Forest Rittgers has been a central figure in several of the most brilliant eras of Coe sports, both as a player and a coach. A member of the famous 1922 championship team, he is the only Coe alumnus who can claim a touchdown scored against Wisconsin, that tally coming in a 7-7 tie with the Badgers in 1924. Col. Rittgers coached at Centerville, Iowa, for four years where he had an undefeated team in 1928. He returned to Coe in 1929 as Moray Eby's backfield coach and scout in an era of frequent championships. He taught courses in coaching and physical education during much of this period and was a busy football and basketball official. Forest Rittgers was Coe basketball coach from 1929 to 1938. But his most spectacular success came as track coach from 1929 to 1942 when his teams won eight conference titles, twice taking the crown three years in a row. In the remaining five years his teams were runners-up four of the five times. For the last two years of that period he served at Coe as an Army Captain assigned to teach military science, and in that position, he continued coaching. He continued Army service in a variety of foreign and domestic assignments after World War II until his retirement as a Colonel in 1957. As an alumnus, Col. Rittgers has consistently supported the academic and athletic development of Coe College. He has been what Coe would define as an ideal alumnus - successful in his professional field and supportive of the best the college is trying to do. For this reason, and in light of his contributions to Coe as a player and coach, it is satisfying for me to present Col. Forest S. Rittgers for induction into the Coe College Athletic Hall of Fame.
