Bio

Pat Riepma recently completed his 21st year as a part of the Northwood athletic department.

He returned to his original role of head football coach in November of 2013. Riepma will also serve as Associate Athletic Director, continuing his role with fundraising.

Riepma spent 15 years as the head coach of the Northwood football program from 1993-2007, turning the Timberwolves into one of the elite programs in the conference.  A four-time GLIAC Coach of the Year, Riepma is the all-time winningest coach in program history, having registered a 95-75-2 career record.  Riepma passed Hall of Fame coach Jack Finn’s record of 87 career wins during the 2007 campaign.  In his time at Northwood, Riepma won three GLIAC Championships and reached the NCAA Playoffs four times.

In the winter of 2000, Riepma was named the Athletic Director for Northwood.  He held that role until his return to coaching in 2013. He has been vital in the dramatic improvement of the Northwood athletic facilities over the past few years.  In August of 2010, Phase I of the Bennett Center Renovation and expansion project was completed.  Phase I included the Robert B. Bennett Athletic Performance & Wellness Center, Strosacker Foundation Athletic Training Room and the Fabiano Family Student Lounge.  Phase II was completed in early 2012.  It included the DeVos Student Development Center and the Gerstaker Academic Center.  More facilities upgrades are planned for the near future.

Riepma came to Northwood after a highly successful playing and coaching career at Hillsdale College. As a four-year starter at quarterback, he led the Chargers to a combined 30-6 record from 1980-82. As a junior and senior, Hillsdale won consecutive GLIAC titles and went on to two trips to the NAIA playoffs. He is also a member of the Hillsdale College Athletic Hall of Fame. After earning a degree at Hillsdale, Riepma went back to his high school alma mater, Brooklyn Columbia Central, as an assistant coach. He then served as a graduate assistant at Central Michigan University in 1984. He earned his Masters degree in physical education from CMU in 1986.

From 1985-92, Pat was a full-time assistant coach at Hillsdale, helping the Chargers to an overall record of 64-26-1. In addition to his football coaching duties, Riepma was the head baseball coach from 1985-88 and served as the school’s sports information director.

Pat and his wife, Sherri, have three sons (Zach, Jake and Josh) and reside in Midland.