In his five years leading the UW-Oshkosh men’s soccer program, Wytse Molenaar owns a .743 winning percentage and two appearances at the NCAA Division III tournament.
While totaling a record of 68-19-14, Molenaar has coached two players to four NCAA Division III All-America citations, nine players to 12 All-North Region laurels by the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA), 16 players to 22 All-WIAC first team selections and three WIAC Scholar-Athlete of the Year winners. Will Chaney made the D3soccer.com All-America squad twice (2010-11), while in 2010 Jack Borski received the honor from both D3soccer.com and the NSCAA. Borski (2010), Garrett O’Brien (2011) and Ryan Redmond (2013) were all named the WIAC Scholar-Athlete of the Year.
In 2014, UW-Oshkosh went 14-5-2 overall and won its first outright WIAC title, going 3-0-1 during league play and registering two shutouts in the WIAC tournament, including a 1-0 victory over UW-Whitewater in the final. The Titans recorded 12 shutouts on the season. Goalkeeper Sam Gabrilska was selected the WIAC Defensive Player of the Year to highlight five Titans on the All-WIAC First Team.
During the 2013 season, Molenaar led the Titans to a 15-2-4 record, including nine shutouts, and an appearance in the NCAA Division III tournament. Molenaar helped UW-Oshkosh win the major all-conference awards with Tony Starnes claiming WIAC Offensive Player of the Year honors and Karl Bock earning WIAC Co-Defensive Player of the Year. It was the first time a Titan had won either WIAC award. Starnes was also named All-Region First Team while Bock earned All-Region Second Team.
Molenaar's 2010 team compiled a 20-1-3 record, shared the WIAC title and reached the semifinal round of the NCAA Division III Championship. The Titans were undefeated through 23 matches, including playoff victories over Carroll University, North Park University (Ill.), Loras College (Iowa) and Calvin College (Mich.) to earn a Final Four berth in San Antonio, Texas. UW-Oshkosh finished third after falling to eventual national champion Messiah College (Pa.). The Titans concluded the season with 18 shutouts and outscored their opponents by a 62-9 margin. Molenaar was named Coach of the Year for both the WIAC and the NCAA Division III North Region. Molenaar also helped seven Titans achieve All-WIAC first team honors and six earn All-Region accolades.
During the 2011 campaign, Molenaar guided UW-Oshkosh to a 10-6-2 record and a second-place finish in the WIAC. The Titans totaled 10 shutouts, including a streak of five straight matches.
Molenaar was UW-Oshkosh’s assistant coach from 2004-08. He’s also served as the coaching director for FC Green Bay since 2000. Originally from the Netherlands, Molenaar came to the United States as an exchange student in 1988. He played collegiate soccer at NCAA Division II California State University-Dominguez Hills from 1990-92.
Along with his certification from the Royal Dutch Soccer Association, Molenaar has an “A” license from the United States Soccer Federation and a premier license from the NSCAA. He earned a business administration degree from UW-Oshkosh in 2006.
Molenaar lives with his family in Hobart.
(8/5/2015)
