Mel Riddick is named Dieruff's acting athletic director

http://blogs.mcall.com/groller/ Mel Riddick, a 1973 Dieruff High graduate, who has been coaching in the Allentown School District since 1980 and teaching at Dieruff since 1986 has been named the school's acting athletic director for the remainder of the school year. Riddick did not say if he would apply for the job on a full-time basis. "Right now, I just want to make it through these eight weeks and we'll re-evaluate it afterwards," he said. "It's something different. There's always balls up in the air that you have to juggle. I still like the classroom and I have to see what's going to happen with the district and where they're going to want to go with the position. Things are also still up in the air with Tim [Geiger]." Riddick, who is a 10th grade World Cultures teacher, knows Dieruff athletics. He was Dieruff's head wrestling coach for the five seasons and a wrestling assistant for another 12. He was a freshman football coach for four years and the head track coach for four years. "I've been around Dieruff sports since 1980," he said. Riddick said he officially took over as AD last Friday and he jumps right into a busy spring sports calendar now being hampered by rainy weather. "That's what I have been busy with today," Riddick said. "We've got to make sure the kids are safe with the playing conditions at our fields." Another issue on Riddick's plate is the hiring of the new girls basketball coach and he said interviews are currently being conducted.