MICHIGAN SOCCER NETWORK: MSN NEWS: www.michigansoccernetwork.com/msnnews
BY DAN STICKRADT
COMMUNICATIONS SPECIALIST | WEB AND CONTENT EDITOR | DIRECTOR OF NEWS
BUSINESS LINE: (248) 525-2349
CELL PHONE: (248) 884-1051
TW/X: @msn_stickradt @LocalSportsFans @MiSoccerNetwork
MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich. – Spencer Sandow did an admirable job in helping Midland Dow High School reclaim a spot in the annual Division 1 girls soccer state rankings. Now, he’s continuing his climb on the soccer pyramid.
Central Michigan University announced the addition of Sandow to its women’s soccer program effective July 23, the Midland resident will serve as the program's second assistant coach. His key roles will be with the forward group and as the team's point of contact for academic standards.
“This all happened so fast,” admitted the 30-year-old Sandow who is a longtime resident of the mid-Michigan region. “I knew there was an opening, so I interviewed and found out I was being offered a little less than two weeks ago. I accepted the job but didn’t wait long to inform Dow. They have been good to me, and I wanted to give them plenty of time to find someone else.
“I enjoyed my four seasons at Dow and really liked the community, the kids, the parents,” said Sandow. “It’s kind of funny but I graduated from that other high school (Midland) and now I coached at Dow for a few years. We had a lot of success in my time at Dow.”
Sandow had to notify Midland Dow this past week after the hiring was made public on Friday to give that school ample time to begin a search for a new varsity girls soccer coach for the 2025 season. Sandow also coached at NCAA Division II Northwood University as a men’s soccer assistant coach for three years (2021-23) and is still an active boys soccer coach in the Midland Fusion Soccer Club youth club system.
Sandow was also previously a men’s soccer assistant coach at his alma mater, NCAA Division III Alma College, as well as stints at NAIA member Spring Arbor University (men’s soccer) and NCAA Division II Lakeland University. (women’s soccer) in Sheboygan, Wisc., as an assistant coach at each of those institutions as well.
This will be his first stop at a NCAA Division I school.
“Throughout the hiring process, Spencer stood out as someone who would fit our staff and our team,” said Central Michigan women’s soccer head coach Jeremy Graves in a press release. "He has displayed, at many levels, to have knowledge and passion, and has had success with all teams he has coached.”
The Midland, Mich.-native was named to the 2022-23 30 Under 30 list by the United Soccer Coaches following a turnaround season with the Timberwolves in 2022 as the program went from a 3-10-1 league record in 2021 to a 7-6-1 mark in Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference play.
Sandow has worked with Michigan State Youth Soccer Association in the Olympic Development Program state pool, the Midland Fusion Soccer Club as both a staff coach and college coordinator and was the head coach of the varsity girls soccer team at Midland Dow High School where he led the Chargers to a pair of district titles and was named the Saginaw Valley League Coach of the Year three times.
In four seasons at Dow, Sandow’s teams won three straight Saginaw Valley League titles from 2022-24 where the Chargers were 26-0-6 in league play during that span. Dow was 52-13-12 overall during Sandow’s tenure with four straight Division 1 district finals appearances and district titles in both 2021 and 2024. The Chargers finished third in the SVL during Sandow’s first season at the helm in 2021.
Dow also averaged 13 wins over the last four years, including 16-2-2 in 2022 and 12-3-4 in 2024 with a team loaded with sophomores and freshmen. The Chargers were upset in the Division 1 regional semifinals by Grand Haven (1-0).
“We had a good run,” said Sandow of Dow. “I feel like the program is in good shape for whoever they hire to take over.
“I told them when I was hired in (at Dow) that it will be a year-to-year thing because I was always looking to coach at the (NCAA) Division I level and I never knew when that opportunity would come,” he offered. “That happened a couple of weeks ago when I started to interview and then I found out recently that I was being offered the position (at CMU). All along I’ve wanted to be a head coach at the collegiate level and I think being an assistant at a D-I school will help open doors for me. I don’t necessarily care if it’s at a D-I, D-II or D-III school, but one of my goals is to one day be the head coach at a college program. I feel like this is the next step up and a great opportunity for me.”
Having strong connections throughout Michigan in both the youth club and high school ranks will help with Sandow’s role which will include recruiting.
“I’ve lived up in the Midland area most of my life, except when I spent a couple of years in Wisconsin and one year in DeWitt down by Lansing with other jobs. I’ve made a lot of soccer contacts over the years and understand the soccer landscape in this state,” said Sandow, a 2012 graduate of Midland High School and a 2016 graduate of Alma College.
Sandow spent one year playing for Northwood University before spending his last three seasons of college eligibility at Alma. He began coaching club soccer shortly after graduating from college.
Sandow conducted some off-campus duties last week and will report to his new office on July 29 to being his career as a Division I college assistant coach.
“I’m looking forward to it. It’s going to be a new challenge, but this is a great opportunity for me and hopefully I can help Central (Michigan) become a better soccer program,” he added.
Central Michigan University’s 2024 season opens with exhibition play Aug. 8, hosting University of Detroit-Mercy. The Chippewas will honor a 15-player senior class ahead of the contest. The 2024 regular season opens at Kentucky (Aug. 15) with the home-opener against Cincinnati (Aug. 25).
CMU is coming off a 2-8-6 campaign including 1-7-3 in Mid-American Conference play.
(Have a story suggestion for the Premier Media Group and the Michigan Soccer Network regarding club soccer, high school varsity, amateur soccer, collegiate soccer or professional soccer of teams or players with Michigan ties, contact Communications Specialist/Web and Content Editor/Director of News Dan Stickradt via email at stickradt@michigansoccernetwork.com, or call 248-884-1051. Dan Stickradt is a 31-year veteran of the Michigan Media circles and recently joined the staff full time in March of 2024. Want to schedule a broadcast game or live show, contact PMG/MSN Director of Broadcasting Jonathan Turner for availability and pricing at jonathan@michigansoccernetwork.com.)
ALL-STATE SOCCER LINKS 2024 -- GIRLS SOCCER
2024 MIHSSCA DIVISION 4 ALL-STATE GIRLS SOCCER TEAMS: www.michigansoccernetwork.com/post/2024-mihssca-division-4-all-state-teams
2024 MIHSSCA DIVISION 3 ALL-STATE GIRLS SOCCER TEAMS: www.michigansoccernetwork.com/post/2024-mihssca-division-3-all-state-teams
2024 MIHSSCA DIVISION 2 ALL-STATE GIRLS SOCCER TEAMS: www.michigansoccernetwork.com/post/2024-mihssca-division-2-all-state-teams
2024 MIHSSCA DIVISION 1 ALL-STATE GIRLS SOCCER TEAMS:
MIHSSCA DREAM TEAM REVEAL SHOW 2024: www.michigansoccernetwork.com/post/girls-soccer-all-state-dream-team-offensive-defensive-players-of-the-year-are-a-talented-bunch
GIRLS SOCCER: All-State Dream Team, Offensive, Defensive Players of the Year are a talented bunch: www.michigansoccernetwork.com/post/girls-soccer-all-state-dream-team-offensive-defensive-players-of-the-year-are-a-talented-bunch
GAME RESULTS FOR ALL LEVELS
SHELBY TWP., Mich. – The Michigan Soccer Network, Premier Media Group and all affiliates, will continue to compile a random sampling of game results from around the state each day. To send in game and tournament results (game wraps, box scores, statistics, coach’s quotes, photos, video clips) from high school varsity, collegiate, youth club, amateur, pre-pro, semi-pro or professional soccer for teams within Michigan’s borders or with ties to Michigan players, email all pertinent details to Communications Specialist / Web and Content Editor / Director of News Dan Stickradt at stickradt@michigansoccernetwork.com or dstickradt@thepremiermediagrp.com, or submit information right on the correct link on the MSN website at www.michigansoccernetwork.com.
MICHIGAN SOCCER NETWORK: MSN NEWS: www.michigansoccernetwork.com/msnnews
GAME RESULTS FOR ALL LEVELS
SHELBY TWP., Mich. – The Michigan Soccer Network, Premier Media Group and all affiliates, will continue to compile a random sampling of game results from around the state each day. To send in game and tournament results (game wraps, box scores, statistics, coach’s quotes, photos, video clips) from high school varsity, collegiate, youth club, amateur, pre-pro, semi-pro or professional soccer for teams within Michigan’s borders or with ties to Michigan players, email all pertinent details to Communications Specialist / Web and Content Editor / Director of News Dan Stickradt at stickradt@michigansoccernetwork.com or dstickradt@thepremiermediagrp.com, or submit information right on the correct link on the MSN website at www.michigansoccernetwork.com.
(Have a story suggestion for the Premier Media Group and the Michigan Soccer Network regarding club soccer, high school varsity, amateur soccer, collegiate soccer or professional soccer involving teams, players or coaches with Michigan ties, contact Communications Specialist/Web and Content Editor/Director of News Dan Stickradt via email at stickradt@michigansoccernetwork.com or dstickradt@thepremiermediagrp.com, or call 248-884-1051 or 248-525-2349. Dan Stickradt is a 31-year veteran of the Michigan Media circles and recently joined the staff full time in March of 2024. Want to schedule a broadcast game or live show, contact PMG/MSN Director of Broadcasting Jonathan Turner for availability and pricing at jonathan@michigansoccernetwork.com.)
GAME RESULTS FOR ALL LEVELS
SHELBY TWP., Mich. – The Michigan Soccer Network, Premier Media Group and all affiliates, will continue to compile a random sampling of game results from around the state each day. To send in game and tournament results (game wraps, box scores, statistics, coach’s quotes, photos, video clips) from high school varsity, collegiate, youth club, amateur, pre-pro, semi-pro or professional soccer for teams within Michigan’s borders or with ties to Michigan players, email all pertinent details to Communications Specialist / Web and Content Editor / Director of News Dan Stickradt at stickradt@michigansoccernetwork.com or dstickradt@thepremiermediagrp.com, or submit information right on the correct link on the MSN website at www.michigansoccernetwork.com.
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(Have a story suggestion for the Premier Media Group and the Michigan Soccer Network regarding club soccer, high school varsity, amateur soccer, collegiate soccer or professional soccer of teams or players with Michigan ties, contact Communications Specialist/Web and Content Editor/Director of News Dan Stickradt via email at stickradt@michigansoccernetwork.com, or call 248-884-1051. Dan Stickradt is a 31-year veteran of the Michigan Media circles and recently joined the staff full time in March of 2024. Want to schedule a broadcast game or live show, contact PMG/MSN Director of Broadcasting Jonathan Turner for availability and pricing at jonathan@michigansoccernetwork.com.)
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