Manchester University

Darren Ridenour enters his second season as Head Coach of Manchester University Swimming and Diving, bringing 35 years of coaching experience across every level of the sport. 

In his debut season at Manchester, Ridenour's impact was immediate. The men's program established 10 new school records while the women's program added three more, signaling a new standard of performance for Spartan swimming. 

Ridenour builds programs around a simple but demanding principle: practice is a meet in development form. Every set, every wall, every turn is treated as an opportunity to get better. His athletes train daily around improving three simple standards — Power, Line, and Momentum. He develops athletes seasonally with the technical precision and the mental discipline designed to achieve peak performance in championship meets. 

Ridenour comes to Manchester with a deep record of building successful programs from the ground up. From 2014-2025 he served as Head Coach of both the Centerville High School boy’s and girl’s programs, and in 2021 he founded Archway Swim Club in Centerville, Indiana. His earlier career includes 20 years as Head Coach at Connersville High School and Middle School, and more than two decades with the Connersville Area Swim Team. Across all of it, his focus has remained consistent: develop swimmers who understand fast swimming and develop divers who understand precise skills.  

A four-time Coach of the Year honoree, Ridenour has been recognized by the Olympic Conference and earned sectional coaching honors in 2013, 2021, and 2024. His programs have developed swimmers from the learn-to-swim stage through zone qualification. 

Ridenour holds current certifications in CPR, First Aid and Safety, and Concussion protocols. He earned a Bachelor of Arts in History from Eastern Kentucky University. 

* Last Updated - May 26, 2026