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Ryan Anderson
• Enters 15th season as head coach at Northwest (2020)
• Named head coach in 2007
• MIAA postseason appearances in 11-of-14 seasons
• 327 wins at Northwest (most in program history)
• Recorded 11, 20+ win seasons at Northwest
• Reached 400 career wins during 2018 season
• 441 career wins (entering 2021)
• NCAA Tournament berths in 2008 (32-22) and 2016 (37-16)
• Head coach previously at Missouri-Rolla (2004-2006), Minnesota-Crookston (2003)
• 1999 graduate of Nebraska-Kearney and former assistant coach
Since becoming the head softball coach at Northwest Missouri State in 2007, Ryan Anderson has led the Bearcats to the postseason in 11 of his 14 seasons.
Anderson’s 327 wins are the most in program history as the Bearcats have won at least 20 games every season, but three. He has also led Northwest to 11 MIAA tournament appearances and earned an a pair of NCAA tournament berths (2008 and 2016).
Kaitlyn Weis became the first Bearcat to earn First-Team NFCA All-America honors for her play in 2018. Weis led the Bearcats in batting average (.385), runs (41), home runs (15), RBI (49), slugging percentage (.743) and on-base percentage (.450).
Anderson guided Northwest to a 27-19 overall mark in 2018, which included a 16-10 record in MIAA play.
In 2017, Northwest went 29-21 with a squad that featured just two seniors. Five Bearcats earned All-MIAA honors, led by freshman pitcher/right fielder Kaitlyn Weis who picked up a second-team nod at utility. Nine student-athletes were named to the all-academic team. During the year, senior Torri Blythe set the career record for stolen bases (68) and at bats (697). Classmate Chantel Adams broke Northwest career records for total bases (348) and runs batted in (145).
The 2016 was one for the record books, finishing with the second-most wins in program history (37-16) while setting the record for most runs and RBIs in a season. The Bearcats' 36 regular season victories were the most all-time, helping them earn the No. 2 seed in the MIAA Tournament. The Bearcats advanced to the NCAA regional tournament for the fifth time in school history after being ranked as high as No. 16 in the NFCA Coaches poll, the first national ranking for the program since 2007. Additionally, senior pitcher Kendle Schieber racked up 21 victories in the circle, the most in a single season all-time. Nine of Anderson's players earned All-MIAA honors, tied for the most in team history, with 12 garnering academic all-conference accolades.
Anderson led the Bearcats to a 26-24 record in 2015, including multiple postseason victories for the first time since 2008.
The Bearcats went 20-30 during the 2014 season, advancing to the MIAA Tournament in Kansas City. Shortstop Chantel Adams earned All-Central Region second team honors and was named the MIAA Freshman of the Year.
Northwest made its fourth consecutive trip to the MIAA tournament in 2013. The team got off to the best start in program history going 7-0 and finished 27-19. Anderson produced four All-MIAA selections that season.
The 2012 campaign saw the Bearcat get off to a slow start, however Northwest would rebound to win five of its final seven games to earn a third consecutive trip to the MIAA tournament. The Bearcats would miss a near upset of No. 21 Missouri Western in the first round losing, 1-0, but knocked off Pittsburg State before being eliminated. Junior transfer Kayli Schurman would tie the single-season record for home runs and junior pitcher Jenna Creger also became to schools all-time strikeout leader to highlight season.
During the 2011 campaign Northwest raced out to a 6-0 conference record before finishing at 14-8 earning the fourth MIAA tournament appearance under Anderson. The Bearcats would finish 25-19 overall.
The 2010 campaign was highlighted by an eight-game win streak during which the Bearcats averaged more than 10 runs per game. The season was capped by junior Dacey Hassey being named the program's second All-American. Hassey and senior Erin Leslie earned first-team All-MIAA honors giving Anderson his first two-time All-MIAA star in Leslie and his fifth Bearcat to earn all-league awards in Hassey.
Northwest placed second and third in the MIAA standings during Anderson's first two seasons at the helm, respectively. The 2008 squad finished 32-22, made the program's fourth NCAA tournament appearance and picked up its third postseason win, defeating Central Missouri 1-0. The Bearcats enjoyed three winning streaks of six games or more and tied for the league lead in runs per game (5.2).
The team's 32 wins in 2008 are the fourth-most in program history. Northwest has enjoyed four 30-win seasons in the last eight years.
Prior to his arrival in Maryville, Anderson enjoyed tremendous success at the University of Missouri-Rolla, leading the Lady Miners to a 107-49 record - the best three-season stretch in program history. Anderson's teams broke more than 20 records and achieved the school's first recognition in nationwide rankings.
Anderson led Rolla to a program-record 41 wins in 2004. The Lady Miners finished second in the regular season race and third in the MIAA Tournament. The team also had the MIAA's most valuable player in pitcher Christy Daken, the first of four all-region players who performed for the Lady Miners under Anderson's tutelage. That record-setting season was followed by a 33-25 campaign in 2005 and a mark of 33-10 in 2006, Rolla's first season as a member of the Great Lakes Valley Conference (GLVC).
Prior to Rolla, Anderson was the head softball coach for the University of Minnesota-Crookston in 2003 when he led the team to a school record for conference wins in a season.
A native of Colby, Kan., Anderson received his bachelor's degree in sports administration with a minor in business administration from the University of Nebraska-Kearney in 1999. He spent three years as an assistant softball coach at Kearney upon graduation. During that time, he also served as marketing and promotions assistant for the athletics department.
Anderson and his wife, Ashley, reside in Maryville. The couple has two sons, Owen and Eli, and two daughters, Adyn and Aly.
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