CLEMSON — John Rittman returns to his old stomping ground Friday for a three-game series at Stanford, bringing Clemson Softball to the West Coast for the first time in the program’s brief history.

For Rittman, the trip is more than just another ACC road series — it’s a homecoming to a place where he spent nearly two decades building his coaching legacy. He served as Stanford’s head coach for 18 seasons (1997-2014) building a program similar to what he has done at Clemson.

During his tenure there, he amassed a 750–351–3 record and led the Cardinal to 17 consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances, including two College World Series appearances in 2001 and 2004.

Now, as he returns to Stanford with Clemson, Rittman acknowledges the significance of the moment.

“It’ll be a fun and exciting weekend,” he said. “Lots of family and friends will be out, but when you go to the softball side of it, it’s a business trip.”

Stanford head coach Jessica Allister is one of Rittman’s former players, as she played on both of his CWS teams. She took over the program in 2019 and continued what Rittman started. She has taken the Cardinal to back-to-back CWS visits in each of the last two years.

Stanford enters the weekend with a 25-6 overall record and a 9-4 mark in ACC play.

“They’re a really good team,” Rittman said. “A ranked opponent on the road, they have a lot of experience, so it’ll be a big challenge for us.”

The weekend will also serve as a homecoming for senior Maddie Moore, a key leader for Clemson at the plate and in the infield at second base.

A graduate of Del Oro High School, Moore grew up in California and will be playing just two and a half hours from home. She has been a standout performer for the Tigers this season, posting a .468 batting average with 51 hits and nine home runs.

Her return adds another layer of excitement to an already meaningful series.

With both teams in the thick of ACC competition, this matchup serves as a key test for Clemson as it aims to solidify its standing in the conference.

“We’ll have to bring our A game,” Rittman said.

 Rittman knows the challenge ahead, but he believes in his team.

And for Rittman, it’s a chance to step onto a field where he built a lasting legacy—only this time, from the other side.