Vander Pluym announced head men’s rodeo coach

Pratt Community College is pleased to announce Ryan Vander Pluym as the new head men’s rodeo coach.
Vander Pluym was hired as the men’s head coach in mid-August and Amy Prather was announced the women’s head rodeo coach in June.
 
Vander Pluym started his rodeo career as a freshman in high school when he started steer wrestling, and then went to the University of Montana Western where he continued to steer wrestle and received his degree in education.
 
Since receiving his degree, Vander Pluym coached at a school in Wyoming, became a member of the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association and also shoes horses.
 
Being a man of many hats, Vander Pluym said he decided to come to PCC because “I enjoy coaching and helping the next generation come up.”
 
Along with coaching, Vander Pluym also teaches Farm, Ranch and Home Repair this semester and is developing a horseshoeing program that will hopefully start in the spring semester.
 
Vander Pluym said he decided to get involved in rodeo because all of his family was rough stock riders.
 
“I was too big to be a rough stock rider so decided to steer wrestle,” he said. “I picked an event knowing it would either work or didn’t and it did.”
 
While steer wrestling Vander Pluym has won the Turquoise Circuit Finals, as well as varies win across the country.
 
Vander Pluym moved to Pratt with his wife and three children.