FAYETTE, Iowa – Patrick Ritter has been named the head coach of the Upper Iowa's women's soccer program after his previous tenure at Bluefield University during the 2022, 2023 and 2024 seasons. This past campaign, he guided the Rams to a 4-11-12 (2-9-2) record—its most wins since 2017. The four victories under his tutelage in the 2024 campaign surpassed the total number of wins the program achieved between 2018 and 2023.
"I'm very grateful to Rick, Willie and Emily for this opportunity," said Ritter. "Throughout the hiring process, they created an environment that made me extremely excited about the opportunity to coach at Upper Iowa."
Ritter brings achievements to the table that reflect both on-field performance and a focus on academic and community success.
The program under Rittler notched the third-best record in the Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC) in 20 years while ending a 49-game winless streak. Last season, Bluefield women's soccer exceeded its win total from the previous six years and saw a 40-point increase in the national RPI rankings. The team also posted the second-best home conference record in program history. Ritter also boasted back-to-back record-breaking recruiting classes, the largest in program history.
Academically, the team excelled with a 3.62 GPA, ranking #17 nationally among NAIA programs. In addition to their academic success, the Rams earned three consecutive AAC Champions of Character honors. Furthermore, Bluefield women's soccer was recognized for its commitment to community service, ranking #1 in the university for service hours from 2022 to 2024.
"We are excited to welcome Coach Patrick Ritter as our new Head Women's Soccer Coach," said Vice President for Athletics
Rick Hartzell. "Patrick brings valuable coaching experience and has a strong background in recruiting in the Midwest. He understands the type of student-athletes we need for success both in the classroom and on the field here at Upper Iowa. We feel strongly that with Patrick leading the team, we'll be positioned to compete for a spot in the GLVC tournament and achieve the success the ladies on the team deserve."
Patrick Ritter was the assistant coach at NCAA Division II Missouri Southern State University in Joplin, Missouri prior to his time at Bluefield. At MSSU, Ritter coached 11 All-Conference performers, and during his tenure, members of the team garnered 36 conference academic awards.
Ritter holds a B.A. in Mathematics from Dakota Wesleyan University and an M.A. in Sports Administration from the University of Saint Mary. He holds certifications from the United Soccer Coaches, the United States Soccer Federation, the U.S. Men's National Team Symposium, and the American Red Cross.
Peacock women's soccer posted a 4-8-4 record this past season while going 4-7-3 in the GLVC. They finished in a tie for eighth place in the conference, just missing out on the postseason tournament due to tiebreaker criteria. They completed a shutout victory over Southwest Baptist and notched road victories against Lewis, William Jewell and Lincoln.
Jordan Goldstein led the Peacocks with 14 points, the most of any freshman in the GLVC. She recorded team-highs with four goals and six assists on the season, and she picked up both a goal and an assist in three different games. Haylie Hutchinson added three goals and three assists, highlighted by a two-goal, one-assist performance in Upper Iowa's 3-2 win over William Jewell. Maile Kehano scored one goal with four assists, which includes a two-assist performance in the Peacocks' 2-2 tie with Winona State. Mikalyn Hidde scored three goals with one assist on the season and was nominated as a James R. Spalding Sportsmanship Award Honoree.
"The program is in a great position to grow with a new mindset and structure to attack the GLVC," noted Ritter. "The players I've spoken with are eager to learn and compete at a high level. I can't wait to begin working with them to see what we can accomplish together."