Josh Rife lands head coaching role for Indiana Hoosiers women’s soccer program

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – Indiana University Vice President and Director of Athletics Scott Dolson has announced the hiring of Josh Rife as the head coach for Indiana women’s soccer program. Rife is the fifth head coach in program history and takes over after a six-year stint as the head coach of Ball State women’s soccer.

“This is an exciting day for Indiana Women’s Soccer,” Dolson said. “Josh’s background as a Final Four player for our men’s program, coupled with his impressive 20-year coaching resume, caught our eye from the start. Then, once we talked to him, we knew he was the person to lead our program into a new, exciting era. He has extensive recruiting connections in the state and around the Midwest that will pay immediate dividends. He also has a burning desire to see IU Women’s Soccer become a force both in the Big Ten and on the national stage. We could not be more excited to welcome Josh back to Bloomington as the new head coach of our women’s soccer program.”

Rife returns to his alma mater as the Honolulu, Hawaii native played two seasons for Indiana men’s soccer from 2000-01. At Indiana, Rife led the Hoosiers to back-to-back Final Four appearances in 2000 and 2001, and a Big Ten title in 2001.

“I’m incredibly excited about the opportunity to come back to Bloomington and coach at my alma mater,” Rife said. “My time as a student-athlete was special and I look forward to providing that experience to other student-athletes. I’m appreciative of Scott and the committee for entrusting me to lead the program and I look forward to getting started.”

Rife owns an overall record of 49-38-21 (33-18-13 MAC) in this six-season tenure at Ball State, highlighted by a program record-tying 15 wins in 2019. His teams have been especially good at home, going 29-12-8 at the Briner Sports Complex.

Welcome back home, Coach Rife ‼️ pic.twitter.com/QD4tqRmlKS

— Indiana Women’s Soccer (@IndianaWSOC) February 11, 2025

Rife has coached 19 All-MAC selections, including 2023 MAC Offensive Player of the Year Lexi Fraley and 2022 MAC Freshman of the Year Delaney Caldwell. In 2020-21, BSU set a program record with four United Soccer Coaches All-Region selections.

His teams have also excelled off the field with multiple team academic awards and a total of 73 Academic All-MAC selections. Fraley was voted Second Team Academic All-America by the CSC in 2023. In 2020-21, Mason and Smith became the first players in program history to be named to the United Soccer Coaches Scholar All-America teams.

Rife led the Cardinals to a second-place MAC finish in his debut season in 2019 and followed it with a MAC West Division title and a MAC Championship Game appearance in the COVID-delayed 2020-21 campaign. The championship game appearance was the third in program history.

After Rife introduced a new style of play, Ball State finished 20th in the country in total assists in 2019, and teammates Tatiana Mason and Sam Kambol both set the school record for assists in a single season with seven apiece.

Rife came to Muncie from Starkville, Mississippi, where he spent one season as an assistant coach at Mississippi State. During his lone year in Mississippi, Rife helped lead the Bulldogs to their first-ever appearance in the NCAA Tournament. Rife led a record-breaking defense at MSU, holding opponents to 11.6 shots per game and allowing only 17 goals.

Before Mississippi State, Rife spent two seasons in Virginia as an assistant coach for the women’s soccer team at Liberty University. There, he guided the Flames to an NCAA Tournament appearance in 2016 after winning the Big South Conference title. Prior to Liberty, Rife served as an assistant for the Pittsburgh Riverhounds of the United Soccer League (USL), and was head coach of the team’s U-23 squad. Additionally, he became the youngest head coach in the Major Indoor Soccer League when he was hired by the Rochester Lancers in 2013.

Rife’s coaching career began in 2003 as an assistant with Missouri Baptist University. He also made a stop at Palm Beach Atlantic University in Florida where he worked as an assistant coach. In 2010, he led the Sailfish to the National Christian College Athletic Association National Championship after compiling a 15-6 record. Rife also served as a volunteer assistant at Gardner Webb University in 2012.

In addition to his several years of coaching experience, Rife played professionally both indoor and outdoor. From 2003-2012 he played in the USL for the Charlotte Eagles and then spent the 2013 season with VSI Tampa Bay FC. From 2005-2013, Rife also spent time in the MISL, playing for the Philadelphia Kixx, Detroit Ignition and Milwaukee Wave.

Rife played collegiately for Texas Christian University for two years before transferring to Indiana University. After graduating from Indiana with a degree in general studies and a business certificate, Rife has gone on to receive his premier diploma and advanced national diploma from the United Soccer Coaches.

Rife and his wife Christy have two daughters, Maddison and Kilee.