Xavier’s Dean Ward accepts head coaching position at University of Iowa

IOWA CITY, Iowa – Dean Ward has been named head women’s soccer coach at the University of Iowa, it was announced by Henry B. and Patricia B. Tippie Director of Athletics Chair Beth Goetz. Ward is the sixth head coach in program history.

“We are thrilled to welcome Coach Ward, Jeri and Lucy to the Hawkeye family and could not be more excited for the future of Iowa Women’s Soccer. His track record of competitive excellence, player development, and championship culture speaks for itself, and we are confident he will build on the strong foundation already in place here at Iowa,” said Goetz. “I also want to express my sincere appreciation to our student‑athletes and staff for their resilience, professionalism, and unwavering commitment throughout this transition. Their attitude and unity have been remarkable, and it reinforces the bright future ahead for this program.”

Originally from Birmingham, England, Ward has nearly two decades of collegiate soccer coaching experience, most recently leading Xavier University to 31 victories as head coach over the last two seasons.

“I am incredibly honored and excited to join Iowa Athletics and lead the Iowa women’s soccer program,” Ward said. “I arrive with gratitude and understanding of the fantastic platform the program can continue to build off and look forward to continuing a culture of excellence with further success here at Iowa. I would like to thank Beth Goetz, Matt Henderson and the entire search committee for entrusting me with this opportunity. I can’t wait to start this new adventure as a Hawkeye.”

Ward led the Musketeers to 16 wins in 2025 – tying for second most in a single-season in program history — en route to capturing the BIG EAST Tournament Championship and advancing to the NCAA Tournament Round of 32. Xavier won eight league matches in 2025 to finish the regular season as BIG EAST runners-up for a second straight year. Following the season, Ward and his staff were recognized as United Soccer Coaches (USC) East Region Staff of the Year.

Under Ward’s direction, Natalie Bain and Samantha Erbach earned multiple postseason honors following the 2025 season. Erbach was a USC Third Team All-American, CSC Academic All-American and the BIG EAST Midfielder Player of the Year. Bain was tabbed a USC Fourth Team All-American and the BIG EAST Defender of the Year.

Last season, the Musketeers broke school single-season records for goals (71), assists (68) and shots (471), while recording 12 defensive shutouts were third most in program history. Xavier ranked second in the country in scoring offense (3.23), points per game (9.55) and goal differential (49), fourth in shots per game (9.68) and fifth in assists per contest (3.09) in 2025. Erbach was second nationally in points (52) and assists (16), and sixth in goals (18).

Ward guided the Musketeers to 15 overall wins, including seven in conference play in 2024, earning the No. 2 seed in the conference tournament. On offense, Xavier finished 2024 with 51 goals — the most by a Xavier squad in 40 years — and posted 139 points, the most by the Musketeers in more than three decades. Xavier’s defense collected 10 shutouts, only yielding 18 total goals.

Three Musketeers earned BIG EAST awards in 2024, with Bain being named Defender of the Year, Samantha Wiehe earning Midfielder of the Year, and Erbach picking up Freshman of the Year honors. Bain and Wiehe were both named USC Second Team All-America, marking the first time in program history that two Musketeers earned All-America distinction.

Prior to his time at Xavier, Ward spent two seasons at Lenoir-Rhyne University, where he led the Bears to 29 wins, two league titles, one conference tournament title and a pair of NCAA D-II Women’s Soccer Championship appearances. After taking over the program in 2022, Ward led Lenoir-Rhyne to a 29-5-8 overall record, with a 3-1-1 mark in NCAA play, wrapping up the 2023 season with an Elite Eight appearance and No. 8 ranking in the USC Top-25.

During his time coaching the Bears, Ward coached 16 all-conference honorees, nine all-region selections and two USC All-Americans. His roster also featured two-time SAC Scholar-Athlete of the Year, Louise Berg, and Elin Hansson, the 2023 D2CCA Southeast Player of the Year.

The Bears posted a 17-1-5 record in 2023, winning a second-straight South Atlantic Conference regular season championship, as well as the league’s tournament title to earn a No. 1 seed in the D-II NCAA Women’s Soccer Championship for the first time in program history. Lenoir-Rhyne went 13-0-3 in the regular season, including an 11-0 mark in SAC competition, and won the league’s tournament to enter the NCAA Tournament with an unbeaten record at 15-0-4. The Bears won the Regional Championship, advancing to the Elite Eight.

The 2023 Bears had nine earn all-conference honors, including two-time SAC Offensive Player of the Year, Elin Hansson, and Defensive Player of the Year, Ria Acton. Following the season, five earned All-Region honors with Hansson and Acton both earned D2CCA First Team All-America honors as well. Ward and his staff also earned SAC Coaching Staff of the Year and USC Southeast Region Staff of the Year following the 2023 season.

In 2022, Ward led the Bears to a SAC Conference title and NCAA Championship appearance in his first season at the helm. The 2022 Bears were 12-4-3 overall, including a 9-0-2 conference record, and advanced to the second round of the NCAA Tournament. In his first season at Lenoir-Rhyne, Ward coached seven All-SAC selections, including SAC Freshman and Offensive Player of the Year, Elin Hansson. Four Bears earned USC All-Region accolades following the season. Ward was also named the SAC Coach of the Year in 2022.

Prior to taking over at Lenoir-Rhyne, Ward was an assistant coach and recruiting coordinator at University of Dayton for five seasons (2017-21). Ward helped the Flyers earn Atlantic-10 Tournament berths each year, with 15 earning All A-10 Conference honors. Among those were A-10 Offensive Player of the Year Alexis Kiehl and Itala Gemelli, who earned A-10 Rookie of the Year and Player of the Year honors during her career.

Ward also previously served on staff at the University of Tennessee under Brian Pensky for five years, helping the Volunteers to a 50-36-16 record, including three 10+ win seasons.

Ward is married to Jeri Ward and they have a one-year-old daughter Lucy Ward.