Groundbreaking Ceremony for $3.75 Million Fieldhouse in Memory of Legendary Coach Rider
On Thursday, Elizabethton hosted a groundbreaking ceremony for the future Dave Rider Center for Athletic Performance, a facility projected to cost around $3.75 million. Around 75 people, including city officials, Board of Education members, students, athletes and community members, gathered to honor the legacy of the legendary Elizabethton High School (EHS) football coach, Dave Rider.
A Long Awaited Facility
The new state-of-the-art fieldhouse marks a significant milestone for the Elizabethton school district. The development is not only equipped with first-class facilities but also serves as a living tribute to a treasured member of the local community. This groundbreaking coincides with the campus’s 50th anniversary making it a particularly significant event for Elizabethton High School Principal, Dr. Jon Minton.
“Breaking ground on a facility that’s going to be first class, state-of-the-art and one-of-a-kind, really, in the East Tennessee region, maybe from here to central Tennessee, is very fitting”, said Dr. Minton.
Remembering Coach Rider
The center is named in honor of the late Coach Dave Rider, a cornerstone of EHS athletics, who led the EHS football team, the Cyclones, to a compelling record of 173-79 during his tenure. Coach Rider passed away at the age of 82 on Dec. 20, 2020. His wife, Deanna Rider, expressed gratitude and pride, acknowledging the cultural impact her late husband had on the school.
“I know that if Dave was here, he would be just as proud as he could ever be to have this beautiful building that’s going to be built here and for the benefit that it’s going to make to the school that he loved with all of his heart”, said Deanna.
Fulfilling Coach Rider’s Dream
Current EHS football coach Shawn Witten, who is also Coach Rider’s grandchild, went on to add how this long-awaited athletic training facility will pay dividends and help carry forward the legacy of excellence that Coach Rider represented.
“Our grandfather, the only negative that ever came out of his mouth every year was, ‘We’ve never had a field house. We need a field house.’ And so, giving back to our student-athletes, they’re the ones who are going to receive the most benefit from this”, Witten said.
Investment in Youth and Legacy
The project has garnered financial backing from the Elizabethton community, including a $1,000,000 capital allotment from the City Council and a $400,000 gift from the Citizens Bank Tri-Cities Foundation Ltd and the LaPorte family. This investment underlines the community’s dedication to youth and athletics.
The Dave Rider Center for Athletic Performance:
The approved $3.75 million project will include a 30-yard-by-30-yard section of artificial turf under an open-air canopy connecting the fieldhouse, an auxiliary gymnasium with a basketball court that can also be used for volleyball and other activities, and a new weight room that is larger than the one currently underneath the visiting bleachers.
Continuing the Legacy
The groundbreaking ceremony signifies more than the simple construction of a new facility. It is a symbolic testament to the lasting legacy of a great coach, the importance of community investment in youth, and the commitment to preserving a shared history while looking forward to new milestones.
