By STEVE LEE, Times Staff Writer
Published January 4, 2005
ST. LEO - Walt Riddle's second stint at Saint Leo was nowhere near as crowded or hectic as his first.
As the school's first sports information director in 1989-90, Riddle shared a cramped office with then-softball coach Ray Carver and part-time soccer coach Fran Reidy. Then Carver was fired, Riddle moved on to the Sunshine State Conference administrative offices and Reidy, Riddle's close friend, worked his way up the ladder to become Saint Leo's athletic director.
"You don't need much room," Riddle said, adding that his return to Saint Leo as SID in 2001 has been "just as much fun."
At Saint Leo, Riddle is a media coordinator and planner for athletic functions. But his 1991-2001 tenure as Sunshine State Conference assistant commissioner got him elected to the conference's hall of fame. Riddle, 66, is among 11 Class of 2004-05 inductees.
Riddle gave thanks to outgoing commissioner Don Landry, also inducted this year, "who gave me the opportunity for doing what I like doing."
Riddle was instrumental in helping the conference administration evolve. He once served as the SID for nine schools, set up the computerized system for keeping track of statistics and records, and chaired the hall of fame committee.
Also, Riddle helped produce the conference's television package with Sunshine Network, gave seminars on sports information and was a mentor. Four of his proteges - Tim Carpenter, Aaron Barter, Tom O'Brien and Dean Watson - became SIDs.
Riddle said he returned to Saint Leo "because of my friendship with Mr. Reidy. You surround yourself with good people and good things happen."
Reidy, a men's soccer coach and SID at Saint Leo when Riddle moved to the conference office in Orlando, helped Riddle with computers and Riddle helped Reidy improve his writing.
"It starts with mutual respect," Reidy said. "We know what the other one's good at."
Riddle, a sports writer for newspapers in Florida and Virginia before becoming an SID, plans to retire after the next academic year. His one wish is to witness Saint Leo win its first conference championship.
In the interim, Riddle will be in charge as Saint Leo hosts two major events in 2005-06, the conference men's and women's basketball tournaments and the NCAA Division II Southern Region cross country meet.
Among his proudest moments were "start-ing seminars for young people who wanted to get into this business," and "having the opportunity to work every day with Fran Reidy and (Saint Leo president) Dr. (Arthur) Kirk, and being around a great bunch of coaches.
"Everybody on the staff is family. Everybody helps everybody."
