Hofstra University men’s and women’s soccer head coaches Richard Nuttall and Simon Riddiough have established a culture of excellence around the soccer program. Combined, the two coaches have 15 conference championships and 585 total wins, including 11 in the NCAA tournament. Nuttall’s 37 years coaching the men’s team and Riddiough’s 20 seasons at the helm of the women’s side have seen some of the greatest moments in Hofstra Athletics history. However, as Nuttall reaches the end of his unmatched coaching career, he and Riddiough are more sentimental about their relationship than the trophies on their shelves.

When Nuttall made a recruiting trip to England in 1990, Riddiough wasn’t on his radar, but a standout performance quickly changed that.

“The college he went to was a very good soccer-playing team,” Nuttall said. “I went to watch two of their other players, but when I was watching the game, I saw this guy flying up and down the left side of the field … I said, ‘God, he’s not bad, he’s tough.’ After the game, I spoke to the coach about the other two, and I said, ‘What about your left wingback?’ … He was the kind of player we wanted: tough, hardworking and motivated.”

For Riddiough, meeting Nuttall and eventually coming to Hofstra marked a new beginning.

“I loved my four and a half years at Hofstra,” Riddiough said. “They were the best [years] of my life, on and off the field.” 

The relationship between player and coach was a close one.

“My parents made me come to America, and since then, [Nuttall has] always looked after me; he always got me summer jobs, training and coaching,” Riddiough said. “I loved playing for him, we’d run through a brick wall for him.”

Even as a player, Riddiough was a standard-bearer for the Pride on and off the pitch.

“He played for five years, he got injured one year and was captain the other four years, he might be the only person I’ve ever had who’s been captain for four years,” Nuttall said. “He’ll be the first to admit he’s not the smoothest or the most skillful, but he’s the toughest, the quickest and the hardest. He used to give every ounce of his energy to the game … I think I played him just about every position on the field.”

Riddiough earned the respect of his players and coaches not just with his tenacity on the field, but with his demeanor in the locker room and in practice.

“His leadership was real, honest and open. He’d hold people accountable. [Riddiough was] not a screamer or shouter or demeaning, but he was a loud, direct person who exuded confidence himself,” Nuttall said. “Nobody worked harder than him or gave more than him, so everybody respected him. Whatever [Riddiough] said, the rest of the group fell into line. He was a leader by example.”

After Riddiough graduated and became an assistant coach for the women’s soccer team, the pair became close friends.

“We were always in touch; it’s become a never-ending relationship,” Nuttall said.

“We’ve done a lot together over the years,” Riddiough said. “We’ve been involved on and off the field for many years. I was his daughter’s godfather, and he was in my wedding party.”

Both men have gone through ups and downs together, with some moments standing above the rest.

“I’ve got 1,000 great stories, but I’m not sure I can share them,” Riddiough chuckled. “We’ve gone through a lot of good, bad, ugly and excellent times. We’ve partied together, we’ve been to bachelor parties together, we’ve cleaned houses together and we’ve done gardens together. There’s nothing that me and [Nuttall] haven’t shared. We’ve had some fantastic times and great laughs.”

Riddiough was an assistant coach from 1996 to 2005, when he took over head coaching duties from program founder JoAnne Russell.

“He was the assistant for many years, and he deserved the head coach’s role,” Nuttall said. “A major part of [Russell’s] success, which she will admit, was having [Riddiough] as an assistant.”

As a new head coach, Riddiough took lessons and inspiration from many different coaches, including Nuttall.

“[Nuttall’s] strength is always his motivation, his caring, his empathy and his love for his players,” Riddiough said. “He was always an effective coach tactically and had an ideology he trusted and believed in. I think it’s valuable as a young coach to understand that and appreciate that. He also took extra time to care about each and every player. Hopefully that’s something that my players would agree with, that I do take a vested interest in them, not just as soccer players but as people.”

As for Nuttall, even the elder statesman of Hofstra soccer learned a thing or two from his former player.

“I honestly think he’s more detail-oriented than me,” Nuttall said. “We can learn from him. He really gets granular with what he does with the girls, and I think he understands the game really well.”

Even though Nuttall and Riddiough coach for different teams, every victory for either team is a victory for the whole soccer program.

“I felt [like] a part of all his success, and I’m sure he felt [like] a part of our conference titles and wins as well,” Nuttall said.

Nuttall and Riddiough come from nearby areas of England. 

“Our town is a rough town,” Nuttall said. “I’m proud of what he’s done, and I’m proud of what I’ve done. It’s nice to see a success story.”

With Nuttall’s career winding down, Riddiough is soon to be the figurehead of Hofstra soccer, but his gratitude and love for his former coach knows no bounds.

“There’s a deep love and a deep gratefulness for him more than anything else,” Riddiough said. “In the early days, he was almost like a big brother figure for me. Coming from England as an 18-year-old, you get homesick and need a lot of support, and he was there for me. He got me involved in a local club, which I’ve been a part of since coming to America. I played for him in the semi-pro league, I’ve coached with him everywhere he’s gone … I’ve been very fortunate that he’s always embraced me and allowed me to work for him and with him. For that, you’ve got to have sincere gratitude, and that’s what I have for [Nuttall], it’s true gratitude for what he’s done for me and my friends, and what he did for Hofstra and the program.”

Nuttall will not be departing Hofstra University upon his retirement. He will be taking the role of Assistant Director of Athletics for Development and Alumni Affairs, while Riddiough is expected to remain the coach of women’s soccer for years to come.