John Ridings

i spent 2 years playing football at olivet nazarene. i dropped out in 92 and enlisted in the army for 4 years (2 years in germany, 1 year in cuba, 1 year in washington state). i got out in 96 and spent 3 years at western il univerity earning my BA in sociology. I then was at U of Chicago from 99-01 earning my MA in social work. I went straight into a PhD program in social work at U of I in Chicago and didn't graduate until 2008. while attending school I started a family (my wife rowena and my daughter Gaby). I worked at Northwestern Memorial Hospital for 5 years as a clinical social worker and i'm now working at a large non-profit organization in chicago as their director of research (I've been there for the past 6 years). we live now in evanston, IL near ryan field and commute into the city for work.

I remember going to Stage II a lot on weekends and throwing parties out at my grandparents' farm in Metamora.

i didn't really have a plan other than to play football for as long as possible

I'd love to coach Junior Football in my area

so hard to pick 1 - John Antrobus, Tony Fryxell and Chad Scott were my running buddies.

my daughter should almost be out of high school by that time so we will likley still be living in Evanston. after she goes to college I'm hoping to move out east, maybe DC.

in the fall i like to attend football games at Northwestern University. since we are in northern IL we go to six flags and the dells a lot. i like to cook out on the grill. I love to teach, I usually teach at least 1 class each fall and spring at UIC.