Dr. May Ridgway enters her sixth year at the Lady Mav helm and has compiled an impressive 228-74 record. In her five-season reign, Ridgway has four appearances in the AIAW National Tournament to her credit while also leading UTA to three state championships and four second-place finishes in the SWAIAW regional tournament.
In 1976, Ridgway's initial season with the Lady Mavs, she coached UTA to the state championship, second place at regionals and ninth in the national tourney, finishing with the school's best season of the first four years with a 45-15 slate. The following season the Lady Mavs were 46-12 and once again claimed the state championship but a fifth-place finish at regionals marked the first time in t he school's history it did not go to the national tournament. Ridgway's 1978 club wound up 50-10, took first at state, second at regionals and ninth at nationals. In 1979, UTA ended 41-22, placed third at state, second at regionals and eighth at nationals. Last season, Ridgway led the team to a 46-15 record, placing second at state and regionals and 11th at nationals.
Ridgway attended Eastern Hills High School in Fort Worth, earned her bachelor's degree at North Texas State and received both the master's and Ph. D. at Texas Woman's University. She coached tennis and taught physical education for five years in the Fort Worth public schools before spending four years at TWU as tennis coach and instructor. After one year at Weatherford College as tennis coach, Ridgway came to UTA, where she is an assistant professor of physical education in addition to her coaching duties.
Having competed in nine USVBA national open tournaments, she earned All-American honors during the 1977-78 season. She participated in volleyball, basketball and bowling in college while also seeing open competition in volleyball, softball and tennis.
Ridgway has also officiated in five AIAW national collegiate volleyball tournaments. It was through playing and officiating that she became interested in coaching volleyball.
During the summer of 1979, Ridgway served as manager of the United States volleyball team at the World University Games in Mexico City.
