Ryder was born in Nyack, New York and attended Harverstraw High School.
As a senior, he led the team with 702 rushing yards and six rushing touchdowns and catching nine passes for 127 yards and one touchdown and tied for the team lead with three interceptions on defense.
His 702 yards was the highest total by a Miami player during the 1960s and he left the school as the fifth leading rusher in school history with 1,320 rushing yards.
[6] After his football career ended, Ryder coached at North Rockland High School and Notre Dame High School in Utica, New York before joining the coaching staff at Cortland State.
He became the head coach at Maine-Endwell High School before leaving to join Bill Campbell's staff at Columbia University as and offensive backfield coach.