Remembering Armin "Pete" Riesen
Armin “Pete” Riesen, longtime Heidelberg College coach and supporter, passed away Saturday, Oct. 13, 2007. Riesen is fondly remembered by many at Heidelberg for not only his coaching accomplishments, but the large impact he left on the college in general.
“Pete Riesen will not only be remembered as an outstanding coach; he will be remembered for all the lives he impacted during his time at Heidelberg College,” commented interim Heidelberg athletic director Duane Sheldon.
A 1951 graduate of Wittenberg University in Springfield, Ohio, Riesen started his coaching career at Huron High School where he was the head football coach. He then moved onto Mentor High School, where he followed in the footsteps of none other than Lee Tressel when he took over the football program for the Cardinals. He also began what would become a legendary wrestling program at Mentor in 1956; the team has since won numerous tournament championships and is a regular on the award podium at the state championships.
After Mentor, Riesen spent time coaching at both Marion Harding and Lorain Admiral King High Schools, until he moved to Tiffin, Ohio to coach for the Student Princes.
His tenure at Heidelberg began in 1967, when he was brought on as an assistant football coach and head wrestling coach. He still holds the highest winning percentage of any wrestling coach in ’Berg history at .781, Riesen’s overall record was 89-25-4 for the nine years he led the team.
The head football coaching job was awarded to Riesen in 1971, and one year later he led the Fighting Student Princes to a Stagg Bowl Championship and the Division III crown. For his efforts, Riesen was also named the Ohio Athletic Conference Coach of the Year, the Ohio College Coach of the Year, and the Kodak National Coach of the Year. Overall, Riesen accumulated a record of 30-17, placing
him fourth on Heidelberg’s All-Time Win List with a winning percentage of .638.
Riesen left Heidelberg in 1976 for Bowling Green State University, where he took over the reigns of the wrestling program. He led the team to a Mid-American Conference Championship in 1982 and continued to coach the Falcon grapplers until the program was dropped in the mid-1980’s.
He continued to support the Berg, and was the honored guest at the Heidelberg vs. Baldwin-Wallace wrestling match in 2006, in recognition of his work and contributions to the Berg wrestling program. It was during that match that the wrestling team won its first-ever OAC Championship; a win that was made that much sweeter with the revered coach Riesen in the stands.
Former athletic director and current head men’s and women’s tennis coach for Heidelberg Jerry McDonald, who also played football under Riesen from 1972-76 remembers Riesen fondly. “His persona was mental and physical toughness and he expected that from his players. You would always find out later how much he had done for you behind the scenes,” McDonald recalls, “He had a knack for knowing when to put his arm around your neck and give you words of encouragement. He held the most respect from his players than any coach I have ever been associated with.”
“Everyone has their favorite ‘Pete’ story,” McDonald added.
Former Heidelberg wrestling and football coach and 1958 graduate Jim Getz seconds McDonald’s sentiment; “Pete's players returned after graduating and laughed with him about the many incidents that happened during their playing days.”
Joe Hada, a 1972 graduate and current volunteer wrestling coach at the Berg, is one such player. “Pete was a real enthusiastic guy, and sometimes he would get so excited during matches he would lose team points. Riesen, however, only did it out of concern for his players, to ensure that their well-being was being watched out for on the mat. He was an intense competitor but more especially a friend and mentor.”
He was the husband of Kathleen M. 'Kay' (McCall) Riesen. They were married on Oct. 23, 1924, in Youngstown, and enjoyed 60 years together.
Pete is survived by a daughter, Michele (Scott) Riesen-Indre of Findlay; sons, Jeff (Dawn) Riesen of Elyria, Mark (Diane) Riesen of Tiffin, Matt (Brenda) Riesen of Van Buren; and sister, Doris (Ray) Grossen of Columbiana; seven grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by a daughter, Colleen Donaghy; and grandson, Brent Riesen.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at St. Michael the Archangel Catholic Church East, 750 Bright Road, Findlay, Ohio at 10:30 a.m. on Thursday, Oct. 18, with Father Mike Hohenbrink officiating. The Hancock County Veterans Memorial Squad will be performing military rites.
The family request memorial donations may be made to St. Michael the Archangel Catholic Church, 422 Western Ave., Findlay, OH 45840, or to Heidelberg College’s Football and Wrestling Programs, 310 E. Market St., Tiffin, OH 44883-2462.
Arrangements are entrusted to Routson Funeral Chapel in Findlay.