Ryan Middendorf returned to his alma mater in 2003 and has since become the winningest women’s soccer coach in program history. Since taking over the program, Middendorf's teams have consistently produced double-digit win seasons and competed for conference championships. Middendorf enters his 21st season at the helm of the program in 2023.
The All-Conference honors are nothing new to the Falcons under the tutelage of Middendorf. Since the NACC began (2006), he has coached 51 players who have received First Team All-Conference honors. He also has 31 players who were Second Team selections.
The 2022 season saw the Falcons tie the school record for wins as they posted an overall record of 17-4-2 and claimed their second-ever NACC Tournament Title with a 1-0 win over Illinois Tech to send CUW to the NCAA Division III Tournament for the first time since he 2019 season. Selena Esten, Karoline Haugland, and Carmen Rowe all claimed All-NACC first-team honors while Brooke Braga, Isabel Downs, and Jordan Lafferty received All-NACC second-team honors. Downs and Lafferty also earned CSC Academic AllAmerica Second Team while Esten, Haugland, and Rowe all were named to the USC All-Region VIII Third Team.
The Falcons claimed another NACC Regular Season title in 2021 at 12-1-0 and a 14-4-0 overall record. Selena Esten was named the NACC Offensive Player of the Year. CUW also earned national honors with Karoline Haugland and Selena Esten earning USC AllRegion honors and Jordan Lafferty claiming CoSIDA Academic All-District accolades. The Blue and White were NACC North Division champions in the 2020-21 season. The Falcons earned six All-NACC North Division selections for the 7-1-0 campaign. The Falcons soared to new heights in 2019, capturing a school record of 17 victories. The Blue and White also clinched their first-ever NACC Tournament title with a 2-1 victory at Dominican to send CUW to the NCAA Division III Tournament for the first time since 2004. Freshman Karoline Haugland was named the NACC Freshman and Offensive Player of the Year, while Middendorf was named the NACC Coach of the Year. Karoline Haugland was a USC All-Central Region First Team selection, while junior Allison McElwee was a USC All-Central Region Third Team selection. CUW tied the program record with seven All-NACC selections. Under Middendorf, the Falcons were the NCAA Division III Statistical National Champions in Shots on Goal Per Game at 14.41. CUW was also ranked second in the top-10 rankings in seven other categories.
The 2018 Falcons finished with an 11-10 mark and an 8-3 NACC record. CUW landed five All-NACC selections.
The 2017 Falcons reached 10 wins and posted a 7-2-1 record in NACC play, good for a tie for third in the league. Middendorf's teams have now won 10 or more matches in 11 of the past 12 seasons. His teams have also posted an impressive 132-32-8 record in conference matches during his tenure.
The 2015 season was one of the best in program history as the Falcons captured their first Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference Championship, posting a perfect 10-0-0 mark in league games. For Middendorf, it was his second conference championship, also guiding CUW to a Lake Michigan title in 2004. The Falcons won 14 games in 2015, the third time in the last four seasons they have reached at least 14 victories.
In 2015, Middendorf led a CUW team that had a NACC-record seven players earn First Team All-Conference honors. In addition, he was named NACC Coach of the Year while also coaching the NACC Defensive Player of the Year (Faith Palmreuter) and NACC Freshman of the Year (Josie Dombrowski).
In 2014 Middendorf helped the Falcons to an appearance in the NACC Tournament Championship game. CUW finished the year with a 14-6-0 record, including an 8-2-0 mark in NACC play. As is usually the case with Middendorf's CUW teams, the Falcons were outstanding defensively in 2014, recording eight shutouts.
The 2014 season also saw the Falcons net their first-ever NSCAA First Team All-Region selection, that honor going to junior Carley Pfannerstill. CUW had three players earn All-Region honors, a program record, as Brittany Klumpp was placed on the second team, while Ashley Apazeller earned Third Team honors. Apazeller became the first Falcon to be named All-Region three times in her career.
In 2012 his program finished with a 15-4-1 record, tying for the best mark in Concordia Wisconsin history. The Falcons have qualified for the NACC Tournament every season since joining the conference prior to the 2006 season.
In just his second season at the helm (2004), Middendorf led the Falcons to the NCAA Division III Women's Soccer Tournament. His 2004 team rolled through the Lake Michigan Conference and was unscored upon in league games.
Middendorf is no stranger to CUW soccer. After an outstanding high school career at Greendale Martin Luther, he competed for four years (1998-2002) for the CUW men's soccer program under current head coach Tom Saleska.
In January 2014 Middendorf was selected to the CUW Athletics Hall of Fame for his playing career.
A defensive midfielder for the powerful Falcons, Middendorf won Lake Michigan Conference All-Conference and NSCAA All-Region honors and was named team MVP as a senior. He earned a Bachelor’s Degree in physical education, along with a minor in coaching. Middendorf is currently teaching in the Health and Human Performance Department at CUW. He has a United States Soccer Federation National License.
Middendorf's coaching resume includes stints with the Cedarburg Striker Soccer Club, three years as the junior varsity coach and varsity assistant at West Bend East, and a season as the Falcon's men's assistant. He currently coaches for the Milwaukee Sport Club
