Submitted photo: The Ruffridge family (left to right): Shea, Brandon, Tyce, Karla and Elle. Brandon Ruffridge will take over as the Fort Dodge Senior High athletic and activities director on July 1, pending board approval.

Brandon Ruffridge is a competitive person by nature.

The long-time Pocahontas Area athletic director is driven to succeed and win. He’s passed that passion along to his three children, as well as the countless number of students he’s taught, coached and led during a 27-year career in education.

Both in and away from their respective activities, Ruffridge loves to see young people dream — and achieve.

It isn’t just the trophies or honors that motivate Ruffridge, who was officially named Fort Dodge Senior High’s new athletic and activities director on Friday. The process of growing and developing — and the lessons learned along the way — is what inspires Ruffridge each and every day in his role as a mentor.

“I want kids to get an education first, while participating in (as many) activities (as possible),” Ruffridge said. “There are a lot of valuable life lessons to be learned from extra-curricular activities. The competitive side of me wants all of our teams and kids to win titles, get Div. I ratings, etc. of course, but it’s important kids are part of a great culture first: Learning about teamwork, sacrifice, being on time, self-esteem, things like that.

“I want our coaches and mentors to not only make our kids better competitors, but more importantly, better people and productive citizens when they leave our programs.”

To date, the 52-year-old Ruffridge has been a Pocahontas Area Indian from the very beginning of his professional career. After growing up in Storm Lake and Sioux Rapids and graduating from Buena Vista, Ruffridge began his tenure at PAC in 1996. He taught physical education, health, served as the district’s at-risk coordinator, and coached both baseball and basketball.

Ruffridge became the school’s athletic director in 2003, and has served in that role ever since. When current FDSH athletic and activities director Josh Porter was named the FDCSD’s next superintendent in early February, though, the wheels began to turn on a possible move to Fort Dodge.

“I’ve had an amazing ride here at Pocahontas Area. My wife, Karla, and I met here, and it’s been a great place for us to raise our family and our three kids to go to school. With the three of them on their own now — Elle at Spirit Lake (as a teacher and coach), Shea at Grand View University and Tyce at the University of Iowa — the timing was perfect to pursue this opportunity. Fortunately, my family has had my back throughout the entire process.

“Professionally, I feel like I’ve been on ‘cruise control,’ so to speak, the past few years. It’s time to get out of the comfort zone a bit and into overdrive. Karla and I are looking forward to the challenges that lie ahead.”

Ruffridge has admired Dodger athletics from afar throughout his time in Pocahontas — a community 45 minutes west of Fort Dodge. He coached Indian baseball with Aaron Davidson, a 1995 St. Edmond graduate who was a principal at the PAC elementary school before coming back to his hometown in 2019 to become the Fort Dodge Middle School principal.

“When I think of Fort Dodge and Dodger athletics, I think of the great pride that the community has for all of their activities,” Ruffridge said. “That’s something I can relate to, and that’s part of what made this position so enticing.

“Anyone who knows me would tell you my passion for athletics and activities runs deep, and that I do a pretty good job of being as genuine as I can to all of the activities that I am a part of.”

The Ruffridge name is well-established in the area. When Brandon’s daughter, Elle, became the must-see basketball attraction and an icon of the sport both on and off the court for Pocahontas Area from 2013-17, he had a front-row seat as an assistant on the Indian bench.

Most recently, Shea — a senior at GVU — scored a memorable upset at the NAIA wrestling tournament on his way to becoming a national champion.

Ruffridge’s message to coaches, mentors and directors will be simple: always keep the bigger picture in mind.

“Are they teaching the kids, are those kids growing throughout the season, are they treating the kids with respect and the way they would want their own kids treated, and are they teaching the kids how to act appropriately on and off the court/field/stage?” Ruffridge said. “We’re excited for this next chapter and being a part of Dodger Nation. We’re looking forward to creating new bonds and new relationships and making a difference in Fort Dodge.”

Leaving the Pocahontas Area community won’t be easy, however, after nearly three full decades of memories.

“The Ruffridge family’s love for Pocahontas Area runs deeper than anyone will ever know. I can’t thank Pocahontas enough for what it’s given our family,” Ruffridge said. “I always go back to Mr. Dennis Pierce (PAC’s former superintendent), Mr. Grant Stimson and Mr. Lynn Moody (high school and elementary principals) — the guys who took a chance on me — and the run I had with Mr. Roger Francis, the principal I worked with for 20-plus years. Four incredible people who impacted my career in more ways than I can explain.

“This will always be our kids’ home. I know they will never forget where they came from. We have amazing friends here, and we work with some great people. That’s what will really make leaving hard for Karla and I.”

Ruffridge’s start date — pending board approval — is July 1. Karla Ruffridge will likely accept a teaching position at the FDMS.