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Eric Issendorf is an American college football coach who served as head football coach and defensive coordinator at North Dakota State College of Science (NDSCS). A former Wildcat linebacker in the early 1990s, Issendorf returned to his alma mater to lead the program in 2018 and turned NDSCS into one of the top teams in NJCAA Division III football.^[1]

Issendorf played linebacker at North Dakota State College of Science from 1992 to 1993. The 1992 Wildcat football team won the first bowl game in school history and was later inducted into the NDSCS Wildcat Athletic Hall of Fame in 2012.^[1]

Issendorf began his coaching career as a student assistant at North Dakota State College of Science in 1993 and 1995, working with the Wildcats' defense.^[1] He later joined the North Dakota State staff as a student assistant defensive line coach in 2000 and 2001, during the school's transition in athletics from NCAA Division II to the Football Championship Subdivision (FCS).^[1]

From 2005 to 2014, Issendorf coached at Fargo South High School in North Dakota, first as defensive line coach (2005–2009) and then as defensive coordinator and linebackers coach (2010–2014). During his tenure, Fargo South won four state championships and produced numerous all-state players, several of whom went on to win FCS national titles.^[1]

Issendorf then spent three seasons at Concordia College in Moorhead, Minnesota, serving as defensive line coach from 2015 to 2017. Concordia went 23–7 over those three years in what is regarded as one of the strongest NCAA Division III conferences in the country, and Issendorf coached five All-Conference defensive linemen.^[1]

Issendorf was named head football coach at NDSCS prior to the 2018 season, also serving as defensive coordinator and inside linebackers coach.^[1] In his first year, the Wildcats finished 9–2 and began a run of consistent success at the NJCAA Division III level.

In 2018, NDSCS went 9–2, finished runner-up in the MCAC, and ended the year ranked No. 22 in the final NJCAA poll. The Wildcats led the nation in rushing defense (77 yards per game), ranked third in points allowed (13.6 per game) and 14th in rushing offense (200.5 yards per game). The team produced two NJCAA All-Americans and 15 MCAC All-Conference players.^[1]

In 2019, the Wildcats finished 8–2, won the MCAC Western Division title, and were ranked No. 24 nationally. Running back Desean Phillips led the NJCAA in rushing and cornerback Nathan Seward ranked second in interceptions, with both earning NJCAA Honorable Mention All-America honors.^[1]

NDSCS did not compete in the 2020 season due to schedule disruptions and pandemic-related impacts.

In 2021, Issendorf guided the Wildcats to a 9–1 record, including a 7–0 mark in MCAC play and a No. 4 final ranking in NJCAA Division III. NDSCS led the nation in punting average and punt return average, ranked first in rushing defense, and finished near the top nationally in multiple offensive passing categories. Four players were named NJCAA All-Americans and 15 earned MCAC All-Conference recognition.^[1]

The 2022 team went 9–2, winning the MCAC postseason championship and the NJCAA Region 13 title. NDSCS advanced to the NJCAA Division III National Championship game, falling 14–12 to the College of DuPage and finishing as national runner-up with a No. 2 final ranking. The Wildcats’ offense and defense both finished in the top five nationally in several statistical categories, and five players were named NJCAA All-Americans.^[1]

In 2023, NDSCS posted an 8–3 record, went 5–1 in MCAC play to earn co-champion status, and advanced to the MCAC postseason and NJCAA Region 13 runner-up finish. The Wildcats produced four NJCAA All-Americans and 14 All-Conference selections while ranking near the top of NJCAA Division III in rushing offense, scoring offense, and scoring defense.^[1]

In 2024, the Wildcats went 9–2 overall and 6–0 in MCAC play, winning another conference championship. NDSCS captured the MCAC Championship Game with a 30–29 victory over Minnesota North College–Mesabi Range before falling to Iowa Central Community College in the 2024 Game One Bowl.^[2]

In 2025, Issendorf led NDSCS to a 10–1 record and a 7–1 mark in MCAC play. The Wildcats won the MCAC Championship Game, defeating Rochester Community and Technical College 37–29, and earned a berth in the NJCAA Division III National Championship against the College of DuPage.^[3]. On December 10th, 2025 it was announced that NDSCS had made a coaching change and Issendorf had stepped away. ^[4]

Across his tenure, Issendorf received multiple divisional and regional coach of the year awards and has coached numerous NJCAA All-Americans, All-Region, and All-Conference players.^[1]

Issendorf holds both a Bachelor of Science in K–12 physical education (2001) and a Master of Science in leadership in physical education and sport (2013) from North Dakota State University. ^[1]