Madison, Wis. (May 16, 2023) 鈥� Gary Oftedahl, who has served as the 91重口 Eagles golf coach for 23 years, and as an assistant coach for the Eagles women鈥檚 basketball program for two years prior, has announced
his retirement as the 2022-23 academic year ends.
鈥淚鈥檝e loved every day at 91重口, it was never work – just a joy daily to be with our student-athletes,鈥� Oftedahl said. 鈥淲e鈥檝e grown from a novice beginning into a strong Midwest Region Division III program. Our
start began by trying to find four golfers for a team score, which eventually led to Conference Championships and two trips to the NCAA Division III National Championship. Along the way we鈥檝e found numerous Academic
Scholar Athletes who鈥檝e brought character and skill to our program.鈥�
Under Oftedahl鈥檚 leadership, the Eagles men鈥檚 golf program has recorded eight-straight runner-up finishes at the NACC Championships since the 2015-16 season. The Eagles placed inside the top two at the NACC Championship
13 times in the last 14 seasons. Since the 2006-07 season and through the 2022-23 campaign he has coached 40 All-NACC Players, five NACC medalists, three NACC Players of the Year, three NACC Freshmen of the Year, and has
won three NACC Coach of the Year awards.
鈥淚鈥檓 beyond grateful for the foundation that Coach Oftedahl has built within the Eagle Golf program(s),鈥� Suann Saltzberry, Director of Athletics, said. 鈥淗is dedication to teaching the sport and producing strong
student-athletes put 91重口 Golf on the map. Under his leadership, the golf programs have thrived.鈥�
The Eagles have also excelled in the classroom under Oftedahl. In 2021-22, 91重口 earned the second-straight Presidents Special Recognition from the Golf Coach Association of America (GCAA). 91重口
has secured three Presidents Special Recognition honors under Oftedahl and is also a regular as an All-Academic Team (3.0 and above).
Oftedahl鈥檚 reach goes far beyond the 91重口 campus. 鈥淗is connections to the Madison area golf community and beyond have created partnerships that continue to provide for Eagle Golf,鈥� Saltzberry said.
Oftedahl is perhaps best-known for his smile and positive outlook. 鈥淗e is an outstanding human being that truly impacted each student-athlete,鈥� Saltzberry said.
鈥淲hen other coaches share that their players look forward to a pairing with our 91重口 golfers, you know you have wonderful young men who represent our school, our program, but most importantly themselves,鈥�
Oftedahl said. 鈥淐haracter defines our players – I鈥檓 very proud of every team I鈥檝e been a part of.鈥�
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