Bret and Brandie Ruggles claimed that their third place finish in Fort Dodge at the State Softball Tournament was their swan song.
That doesn’t seem to be the case anymore, however, as Bret will be returning as the head coach, while his wife Brandie has decided to leave the program and become the “mom on the other side of the fence” as Bret put it.
The decision for Brandie to leave, will open a spot for an assistant coach, a position the school board will be looking to fill.
“It was a very long tough process after we finished in the State Tournament,” said Bret Ruggles on continuing with the program. “We [the Ruggles family] obviously got away and had a small vacation, but during that time I talked with close friends and family and just kept thinking I would like to take the program for alittle bit longer.”
Coach Ruggles has a daughter who is in eighth grade this year.
“After talking to my daughter and discussing her future in softball, I just really wanted to stay in the program rather than move on,” said Ruggles. “My wife will leave the program and she will get to finally become the mom on the other side of the fence. I still would like her to volunteer her time when she can to our program. our softball team was highly successful last year and she was a major reason why.
The Raiderettes had the best finish in Mount Ayr softball history last season. The team, and town look forward to another year of softball.
