Windsor C-1 assistant superintendent Mike Rickermann has been hired as an assistant coach for the Jefferson College men’s basketball team.
Rickermann, a Windsor graduate, has served in administration at the school district since 2022. He previously worked there as a teacher and coach for two decades. His son, Cole, is a sophomore guard for the Vikings. His daughter, Abby, was a standout softball player at Southeast Missouri State University and is currently working as an athletic trainer at Lindenwood University.
Rickermann coached Cole and Abby throughout youth sports.
“Every sport is different, but all are making kids work toward a common goal,” he said. “Treat kids with respect and you can get a good performance.
“Coaching (Cole) in college is completely a dream. When I coached earlier in my career, this was definitely on my radar. Without a doubt, it makes it real easy to come to work every day.”
Coaching won’t interfere with Rickermann’s administrative duties at Windsor because practices and games are at night. Before coming to Windsor, Rickermann worked in administrative roles at Farmington R-7 and De Soto High School.
He already has another part-time job as a basketball official, and can be found most winter nights calling games around the county.
“Playing, coaching and officiating are all good ways to have alternating views on the bench,” Rickermann said. “I can see things from a different (perspective) and our personalities fit well together.”
That other personality is Viking head coach Cornelius Walker, who was hired to revive a men’s basketball program that was dormant for more than two decades. Last season, the Jefferson men’s team finished 10-19 overall and 1-6 in the Midwest Community College Athletic Conference. Walker also is the school’s women’s coach.
Practice began this month and Walker said he’s excited to see how far the team progresses in its second year, now that his returning players have experience together. Along with Cole Rickermann, another local prep talent on the team is guard Gabe Watkins of Herculaneum. Both were starters last year and combined for 17 points per game.
“I look at this as being truly our first year,” Walker said. “The first year, the guys were new and hadn’t had a chance to play with each other. I learned a lot about being the coach of two teams. That’s where the learning aspect came in. The biggest thing I’ve adjusted to is patience and asking for help.”
Enter Mike Rickermann.
“(He is) in position for our guys to look at as a mentor and leader,” Walker said. “He understands the game from an officiating aspect and his administration experience (will help) the players get help academically. He checks the boxes on things I’m not as good at.”
The other assistant coach for the men’s team is Alex King, who held the same position at Stephens College and played high school basketball at Kirkwood.
“Getting those two (coaches) established with the local ranks, we want to get those types of (local) players,” Walker said. “That allows me to go out of state because I have guys helping me locally.”
The Viking men and women held a preseason jamboree Oct. 12 and the men host Lewis and Clark Community College (Godfrey, Ill.) to open the season Nov. 1.
Rickermann said Walker is building the program the right way.
“I felt I could offer things to benefit him and the program,” he said. “For it to be strong, we have to have a local presence and I have a lot of contacts within the community. From an outsider’s opinion, (compared to) last year, I think we’ve improved the roster with more depth. Last year we had 12-13 brand-new players; now we have returners and that will help new players assimilate faster. I think we’re pretty deep.”