Bio

Eric Issendorf NDSCS ‘95

NDSCS Head Football Coach/Defensive Coordinator/Inside Linebackers

Coach Issendorf is in his 4th year at North Dakota State College of Science. Coach Issendorf also was a former player for the Wildcats ’92-’93 and was a student-assistant coach NDSCS ’93 & ’95 for current NDSCS President John Richman. In 1992, the Wildcat football team won the first-ever Bowl Game in school history and that team was inducted into the Wildcat Athletic Hall of Fame, in 2012. During his coaching stint at NDSCS, Coach Issendorf has won 2 Divisional Coach of the Year awards, 1 MCAC Coach of the Year award, and an NJCAA Region Coach of the Year award.

The 2022 Wildcats football team finished the season 9-2 overall, with an NJCAA National Runner-up, a NJCAA Region 13 Championship, and a MCAC Post Season Championship: going 5-1 in conference play; 1-0 in non-conference play; and 3-1 in Championship play. The Wildcats finished the season ranked #2 in NJCAA Division 3 football, coming up short, 12-14, to the College of DuPage in Glen Ellyn, IL. The ’22 Wildcats Offensive production was in the top 5, in the NJCAA, in these categories: 3^rd highest points/game average (33.7 points/game); 2^nd in Rushing yards (169.5 yards/game); #1 in yards per pass (9.8 yards/pass); #2 in passing TD’s (26); #2 in TD’s scored (46). The Wildcats Defensive production was in the top 5, in the NJCAA, in these categories: #5 in opponents points per game (15.6 points/game); #5 in rushing yards allowed (74.1 yards/game); #2 in passing yards per game (113.7 yards/game); #2 in total yards per game (187.8 yards/ game); #4 in interceptions (15); #5 in sacks (24). The Wildcats also had the best punt average at 42.4 yards/punt. With all the team success, the ’22 Wildcats had 5 NJCAA All-Americans (QB Graedyn Buell – First Team; WR Marselio Mendez - First Team; OL Ethan Lyons – First Team (only NDSCS 2-time, 1^st Team All-American); DL Preston Yohnke - Second Team; P – Nik Hunchak – Second Team.)

In 2021, the Wildcats completed a 9-1 season record, going 7-0 in conference play; 2-1 in non-conference play; and a #4 final ranking in NJCAA Division III football. The Wildcats, at one point, were 9-0 and the #2 ranked team in NJCAA Division III, boasting the nation’s best Punting Average (43.1 yard/punt); #1 Punt Return Average (23.5); #1 Rushing Defense (48.9 yards/game); #1 Offense in TD Passes (26); #1 Offense in Passing Yards per Attempt (8.8 yards/att.); #2 in Offense in total TD’s (42); #3 Defensive Points Allowed w. 10+ games (17.2 points/game); #3 Defense in Total Yards (267.5 yards/game); #3 Offense in Points (31.0 points/game); and, #3 Offense in Total Passing (2398 yards). The Wildcats were led by 4 NJCAA All-Americans (P Nik Hunchak – First Team; OL Ethan Lyons – First Team; DL Sylvester Ware – First Team; OLB Jaderian Johnson – Second Team), and 15 MCAC All-Conference players. The 2021 Wildcats Offense also had 2 NJCAA Leaders in QB Graedyn Buell (Completion % - 59.2, QB Rush yards - 358, TD Passes - 20, and QB Efficiency – 159.6) and WR Marselio Mendez (TD Catches – 15, and Total TD’s - 18).

In 2019 the Wildcats football team finished with a record of 8-2, MCAC Western Division Champs, and was ranked #24 in the NJCAA final football rankings. The 2019 team also finished with 18 MCAC All-Academic Honorees, 2 NJCAA All-Americans (RB Desean Phillips – Honorable Mention & NJCAA Rushing leader & CB Nathan Seward- Honorable Mention & NJCAA #2 in Interceptions), and 15 MCAC All-Conference players. The team also had some impressive stats in the NJCAA: #10 Rushing Offense (216.5 yards/game); #10 Rushing TD’s (16); #12 Defense Total Yards per game (255.3 yards/game); #15 Defense in Points Allowed (18.3 points/game)

In 2018 the Wildcats football team finished with a record of 9-2, was ranked #22 in the NJCAA final football rankings, and was runner-up in the MCAC Conference. The 2018 team also finished with 11 MCAC All-Academic Honorees, 2 NJCAA All-Americans (OL Nick Radunz – 1^st Team & DL Marshaun Jones – Honorable Mention), and 15 MCAC All-Conference football players. The team also had some impressive stats in the NJCAA: #1 Defense vs. the Run (77 yards/game); #3 Defense in Points Allowed (13.6 points/game); and #14 Offensive Rushing team (200.5 yards/game).

Before becoming the head coach at NDSCS, Coach Issendorf spent three years at Concordia, Moorhead, MN as the Defensive Line coach. As a part of the Concordia staff the team finished 23-7 in the 2^nd ranked Division 3 football conference in the country and coached 5 All-Conference Defensive Lineman.

Prior to coaching at Concordia, Coach Issendorf was an assistant coach, for 10 seasons at Fargo South High School. He was a coach for 4 ND state championship teams for the Bruins as Defensive Line coach ’05-’09 and Defensive Coordinator/Linebackers ’10-’14, where he helped produce 61 All-State Players. From those teams, 6 former Bruins went on to win FCS National Championships.

Coach Issendorf spent 2 years as a Student Assistant coach (Defensive Line) at North Dakota State University ’00 & ’01, and 6 years total in the NDSU Athletic department. He was a part of NDSU’s transition from Division 2 to FCS football.

Coach Issendorf spent 1 year as a Student Assistant coach (Inside Linebackers) at North Dakota State College of Science ’93 &’95

Coach Issendorf has been married, to his wife Trisha, for 23 years and has two sons Isaiah (21) and Gabe (17).

Coaching Timeline:

NDSCS Student Assistant ’93 & ‘95

NDSU Student Assistant ’00 & ‘01

Fargo South High Assistant – DL ’05 -‘09

Fargo South High Assistant – DC/LB ’10 - ‘14

Concordia College Assistant – DL ’15 - ‘17

NDSCS Head Coach – HC/DC/ILB ’18 to present

Educational Background: 

 North Dakota State University, Fargo, ND

      Master of Science in Leadership in Physical Education and Sport, 2013

   North Dakota State University, Fargo ND

      Bachelor of Science in K-12 Physical Education, 2001

      Minor: Coaching

   North Dakota State College of Science, Wahpeton, ND

      Associate of Arts in Liberal Arts, 1995