Lindenwood University Athletics

Dave Musso is entering his eighth season as the head coach of the Lindenwood women’s soccer team in 2025. 

Under Musso’s guidance in 2024, the Lions won their first-ever OVC Championship, defeating Morehead State 3-2 in the title match. With the win, women’s soccer became the first program at Lindenwood to win a conference championship since transitioning to the NCAA Division I level. In a record-setting season, Lindenwood went 11-5-4 and 4-1-4 in conference play, recording the program's most wins in the NCAA era. Coach Musso was named the 2024 OVC Women’s Soccer Coach of the Year, and the Lions landed four players on All-OVC teams, including Mackenzie Compton (OVC Freshman of the Year, First Team All-OVC, All-Newcomer), Eyglo Thorsteinsdottir (First Team All-OVC), Caroline Ritter (Second Team All-OVC, All-Newcomer), and Tasneem Dizdarevic (Second Team All-OVC, All-Newcomer). Compton was also named United Soccer Coaches Second Team All-South Region. 

During the 2023 season, the Lions picked up three wins, including a 1-0 shutout win against Murray State and a 4-2 victory over Chicago State, both coming at Hunter Stadium. Anna Johnson and Mia Corrigan each earned OVC Offensive Player of the Week honors during the year. 

In 2022, Lindenwood made quite the impression across the Ohio Valley Conference in its first NCAA Division I season, finishing with a 6-8-6 record. Picked to finish ninth in the league, the Lions finished in fifth place and secured a birth to the conference tournament.  The Lions picked up nine shutouts during the year with Sam Blazek being in net for seven of them. The Diamond Bar, Calif, native made 112 saves on the season, tops in the conference, helping her earn a first-team all-conference selection and OVC Goalkeeper of the Year, while Paige Anderson earned second team all-conference honors and Jacqueline Baetz was named to the all-newcomer team. 

Under the direction of Musso in 2021, the team posted a 4-11-1 record, including a 4-9-1 mark inside conference play. Lindenwood compiled four shutouts during the year, which led to senior defender Jill Wipke earning All-Conference honors. 

In 2020, Musso guided the Lions to a 9-3-3 record, and a 9-2-3 mark within the GLVC. A frequent in the top 25 rankings, Musso coached the team to a 5-2-1 record at home, and a 4-1-2 spot on the road. Under Musso, five Lions earned All-Conference honors, and two student-athletes collected weekly GLVC accolades. The team's .700 winning percentage was the highest in Musso’s tenure at Lindenwood, and the eighth time in his career he recorded a win-loss percentage of .700 or higher. Musso coached the Lions to their first-ever appearance in the Great Lakes Valley Conference Tournament. In the classroom, the Lions collected GLVC Team Academic All-Conference honors.

In 2019, the team went 7-9-1 under Musso's direction, including a record of 6-8-1 within conference play.

Musso ushered in a new era during his first season in St. Charles in 2018, which saw the team return to postseason play for the first time since the 2016 campaign. Musso guided the Lions to a 7-10-2 record and a 4-6-1 mark from within the MIAA. 

Lindenwood played some of its best soccer of the season on its home turf at Hunter Stadium, finishing the season with a 5-5-0 record in St. Charles. The Lions won three of their final four home matches, all against MIAA foes, including a 1-0 shutout victory over Northwest Missouri during the regular-season finale.

Lindenwood had two players receive All-MIAA honors following the 2018 season. Defender Jordan Wipke was selected to the All-MIAA third-team, while Morgan Weller earned All-MIAA honorable mention status.

Prior to being named head coach of the Lindenwood women's soccer program in December of 2017, Musso enjoyed a successful 12-year tenure at Quincy.

Musso departed Quincy following the 2017 season with a coaching mark of 165-64-26 at the school, placing him second on the program's all-time wins list. The Hawks reached the GLVC Postseason Tournament all 12 years under Musso, and they reached the NCAA Tournament 10 times. Musso won GLVC regular season titles in 2012, 2013, and 2017, and won the conference tournament in 2012 and 2013.
 
Musso was named the GLVC Coach of the Year four times, and was Regional Coach of the Year twice. He earned both of those honors following the 2017 season. Musso coached 12 All-Americans, 39 all-region players, and 56 All-GLVC performers at Quincy, while his student-athletes captured five Academic All-American honors in 12 seasons.
 
In 2017, Quincy went 17-4-1 overall and captured the GLVC Regular Season Championship with a 13-1-0 mark. The Hawks, which finished the season ranked 11th in NCAA Division II, earned a 2-1 win over Bellarmine in the first round of the conference tournament, before falling to Grand Valley State in the regional semifinals.
 
One of his top stretches at Quincy came in 2012 and 2013 when the Hawks went a combined 34-4-6. The 2013 team reached the regional championship game and was ranked as high as No. 8 in the national polls. That 2013 team set program records for wins (18), shutouts (15), and fewest goals allowed (nine).
 
Musso led Quincy to a .500 or better record in 11 of his 12 seasons at the helm. The Hawks won 12 or more games in 10 of Musso’s years at Quincy, including in his first season, which saw the Hawks out-do their previous season's win total by 10 games. Musso’s teams at Quincy were known for their tough defense, posting a Goals Against Average (GAA) under 1.00 in 11 of his 12 seasons. 
 
Prior to his time at Quincy, Musso coached at Lindenwood for two seasons. In 2004, he was an assistant coach for the men’s team which won the NAIA National Championship. The next year, Musso helped with the women’s program, helping guide the Lions to a 17-3-1 record and national ranking. 
 
Musso played collegiately at Quincy. The four-time letter winner was twice named to the All-GLVC team and  earned all-region honors as a senior. Musso served as a team captain, and was named the team’s best defender in 2003. He was a two-time Academic All-GLVC honoree.
 
Musso graduated from Quincy in 2004 with a bachelor’s degree in sports management. In 2007, he earned a Master’s in Teaching from Lindenwood. Musso is originally from the St. Louis area, and is a graduate of De Smet Jesuit High School.

CAREER COACHING RECORD