Natalie Dreyer named head women’s soccer coach at Ozarks

Clarksville, Ark.-Natalie Dreyer was named the new head women's soccer coach at the University of the Ozarks, it was announced Monday by Athletics Director Jimmy Clark.

Dreyer has spent the last five years as the assistant women's coach at Central Methodist University in Fayette, Mo., helping the program to a 46-33-12 record during that span. Additionally, 12 players earned All-Conference honors and 13 more achieved conference Scholar-Athlete status during her tenure. Dreyer, a native of St. Charles, Mo., helped guide CMU to four straight winning seasons, highlighted by a school-best 14-3-2 record in 2011. Dreyer also served as the assistant men's coach for two seasons at CMU, where she fostered a pair of winning seasons.

"I am very excited to have her on staff as our women's soccer coach," said Clark. "Central Methodist's record has been very good, and she was responsible for bringing in the vast majority of their players. She is known as a coach that recruits high quality players, both athletically and academically. She builds good relationships with players, but is also able to challenge them. I believe she is a star in the making."
    
Dreyer was chosen as the next coach because of her ability to recruit, according to Clark.

"What made her stand out among a large pool of candidates was the fact she had energy in recruiting," he said. "She will work hard for the program. She has the qualities to move our program in the direction we want."

Dreyer's success as an assistant has thoroughly prepared her for the job at Ozarks.

"I am very excited to be at the University of the Ozarks," said Dreyer. "My time at Central Methodist University has brought me to this point in my life, and now I am very happy to build my own program here. I was attracted to Ozarks for the small school atmosphere where you really get a chance to mold young student-athletes' lives." 

Dreyer holds a D coaching license from the United States Soccer Federation and a National Level Coaching Diploma from the National Soccer Coaches Association of America. She worked as the assistant coach for the Missouri 1997 Olympic Developmental Program from 2012-2014 and was the 1999 assistant ODP coach. Dreyer also served as an assistant coach at Boonville High School (Mo.) and was a resident camp coach at the University of Missouri.

She was a standout player at CMU, serving as a three-year captain, while earning All-Conference honors three times. A four-year starter, Dreyer was a two-time conference Player of the Week.

Dreyer's coaching philosophy includes playing a sound, creative brand of soccer, as well as bringing a high level of fitness.

"I love a creative and attractive style of soccer," said Dreyer. "The formation we play will depend on our opponent, and what fits our team the best. To win games we must be defensively and offensively sound. We must bring a high intensity level to every game. It will be our goal to be the most fit team in every game. This is the only way we will be able to outlast our opponents."
    
Dreyer's recruiting emphasis will include the personal classroom attention provided by Ozarks' professors as well as the benefits and balance of competing at the NCAA Division III level.    

"Ozarks is a unique and beautiful place," she said. "Student-athletes will receive personal attention from the faculty and staff here. That isn't typically found at larger institutions. The NCAA Division III philosophy is based on the quality of a student-athletes' overall educational experience, and I believe Ozarks exemplifies that. Student-athletes learn how to balance their academics, while competing in the sport they are passionate about. I want student-athletes that feel comfortable in a small school atmosphere and have a high work rate, coachable attitude, take their academics serious and have the passion to win and compete. It is my goal that every young woman that comes through my soccer program will graduate with their degree in four years, and then go on to use the life lessons developed at Ozarks in their career." 

Dreyer received her bachelor's degree in Education from CMU in 2010. She also has a master's degree in Education from CMU.

Dreyer and her husband, Andy, were married in 2013.