University of Denver men’s soccer assistant coach Ryan Pflugrad has been promoted to associate head coach, head coach Bobby Muuss announced today.

“Ryan has been an integral part of the DU men’s soccer program over the last five years,” Muuss said. “His passion for winning and his belief in doing things the right way separate him from others across the country.  I am looking forward to an even closer partnership as we work together in developing the student-athletes into championship teams.”

In his five years as an assistant, Pflugrad and Muuss have led the Pioneers to two NCAA Tournament appearances and Mountain Pacific Sports Federation regular season titles, and have brought in top 40 recruiting classes each season.

“Ryan has been a big part of guiding DU men’s soccer to consistently compete for conference championships, as well as playing a critical role in attracting top prospects to Denver each year," assistant vice chancellor and senior associate athletic director Ron Grahame said.

The Pioneers NCAA Tournament appearance in 2008 was the University’s first since 1970. Pflugrad and Muuss led DU back to the field of 64 in 2011, when the Crimson and Gold fell in a 1-0 heartbreaker to UC Santa Barbara in double overtime.

“I would like to thank Coach Muuss and the athletic administration here at DU for the promotion,” Pflugrad said. “I am passionate about this soccer program, this University and Denver Pioneer Athletics, and I am driven to help them continue to develop and succeed. I feel very fortunate to be able to work with Coach Muuss, the players and everyone else in the DU athletic department on a daily basis.”   

Pflugrad has helped the program through his ability to recruit over the last five seasons. The 2008 recruiting class was ranked No. 19 in the nation, the 2009 class was No 18, the 2010 class was No. 37 and the 2011 class was No. 19, but Pflugrad and Muuss think the 2012 class could be the best to date during the duo’s tenure.

In his playing days at Roanoke College, Pflugrad was a four-time All-Old Dominion Athletic Conference team member, earning first team honors his junior and senior seasons. The center-midfielder was also twice named to the NSCAA All-South Region team.

DU will begin its full-squad spring schedule against the Brigham Young Premier Development League (PDL) squad in Provo, Utah, on March 24 at 7 p.m. MT.