La Crosse, Wis. - The University of Wisconsin-La Crosse soccer program has announced the hiring of Ryan Raufus as an assistant coach.
 
The coaching position is in partnership with Rush Wisconsin West, where Raufus will serve as their Director of Coaching. Rush WI West is a local youth soccer program committed to providing an unrivaled soccer experience for players of all abilities and age levels. 
 
With recreational, academy and competitive programs, Rush Wisconsin West is comprised of players from 23 communities surrounding La Crosse.  To date, Rush WI West has produced more than 100 Mississippi Valley Conference (MVC) selections and more than 50 collegiate soccer players. 

 
"I'm looking forward to joining the UW-La Crosse coaching staff and soccer program," said Raufus.  "I'm excited to be working with both UWL and Rush WI West soccer programs."
 
Raufus joins UWL after serving as head women's soccer coach at UW-Stout from 2011-24. He is the school's all-time leader with 78 wins with the Blue Devils ranked in the top-10 regionally four different seasons.
 
UW-Stout had 17 players named to the All-Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) Team under Raufus as well as one United Soccer Coaches All-America selection and four all-region honorees.
 
Raufus also served as an instructor at UW-Stout from 2012-18 and assistant intramural coordinator from 2013-22.
 
He was head girls' soccer coach at La Crescent (Minn.) High School from 2004-10 and head coach at La Crosse (Wis.) Logan High School from 2002-10 before being named head coach at UW-Stout.
 
"To be able to recruit a coach with Ryan's experience as a head coach and recruiter, plus his experience in the WIAC, will allow us to continue to provide an extraordinary experience for the women in our program," said UWL Head Coach Jason Murphy. "Ryan is a coach I have know and competed against for over 20 years," added Murphy. "He will be able to come in and immediately make our soccer program better."
 
A native of Oconomowoc, Wisconsin, Raufus earned his bachelor's degree in athletic training from Springfield College (Mass.) in 1999 and master's degree in physical education from UWL in 2010. He was a four-year soccer player at Springfield (Mass.).
 
Other coaching experience includes Coulee Region Minnesota Head Girls and Boys Coach (2006-10), Woodbury (Minn.) Head Girls Coach (2015-18) and Salvo Soccer Club (Minn.) Head Girls Coach (2021-25).
 
He holds the United Soccer Coach Advanced National Coaching License.
 
Murphy added he looks forward to UWL and Rush Wisconsin West continuing to work closely in the future. "This position is going to continue to grow soccer in the Coulee Region and Ryan is the perfect person to be part of both programs," said Murphy.
 
UWL finished 16-4-2 overall and 6-0-1 in the WIAC in 2024 under Murphy. The Eagles won the WIAC regular season and tournament titles while advancing to the NCAA Division III First Round.