Bluefield University bids farewell to Coach Patrick Ritter, who has stepped down as head coach of the Women's Soccer program to accept a coaching position at the NCAA Division II level. In his three years at Bluefield, Ritter transformed the program, setting new standards of excellence and creating a lasting legacy.

Ritter took over the Women's Soccer program in 2022, inheriting a team that had not won a game in two seasons. With a decade of coaching experience, Ritter quickly turned the tide. Under his leadership, the Rams achieved more wins than all previous seasons combined since 2017. The program also posted the third-best conference record in school history and climbed an impressive 40 spots in the National RPI rankings.

Athletic Director Corey Mullins praised Ritter for his dedication and the impact he had on the program. "We as a department are thankful for Coach Ritter's time here at Bluefield. He took over a program that hadn't won a game in two years. He stabilized the program by building a culture of excellence both on and off the pitch. The Women's Soccer program is in a much better place now, and we are proud of the accomplishments of this group of young women in the classroom, in the community, and on the field. We are excited to find the next leader of the program who can continue to build on what Coach Ritter has done."

Reflecting on his time at Bluefield, Ritter expressed heartfelt gratitude to the players, staff, and administration. "I am so grateful for each and every one of the young ladies that we've had at Bluefield. I came here knowing we had a lot of work to do with our structure and culture to turn it around in a positive direction. The players that have been here my entire time, Kaylei, Hannah, Macy, Savannah, and Mollie, played a huge role in guiding that change and they deserve all the recognition I could give. All of our recruits that came in to a struggling program to embrace those changes really drove the improvement we saw this year as well. I can't speak highly enough about all of them as soccer players, students, and mostly as young women."

Ritter also highlighted the support he received from his colleagues. "I'm also very grateful to all the administration, staff, and faculty that have been a part of our short journey. We've had a lot of changes, but we've received so much support from all of them. I especially want to thank those that have been closest to us. Jacob for staying on the staff when I showed up and really embracing the changes I was making. Especially for taking over the social media designs because my posts weren't the best and all his amazing efforts in recruiting. To Erika, Josh, Stormy, and Stephen in athletic training for all their efforts improving and healing not only the players but even me as well. To Corey for his continued trust in me to find success. I also want to say my thanks to Gabe for dealing with me in the office and on trips every day. You all were a big part of me earning this opportunity, and I'm happy I was given the chance to be a Ram three years ago!"

While Bluefield University will miss Coach Ritter's leadership, the community takes pride in the tremendous progress the program achieved during his tenure. The Rams wish him every success in his new role and are excited to build upon the strong foundation he has left behind.