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Edgewood University Athletics

Edgewood University Eagles

Madison, Wisconsin
Gary Oftedahl

Gary Oftedahl


Coach Oftedahl’s educational background brings 41 years of coaching both high school and collegiate golf to Edgewood College. In that time he has guided successful golf at both levels, evidenced by a WIAA State Championship and two runner-up placements at State while head coach at McFarland High School.

Oftedahl has led the Eagles to seven-straight runner-up finishes at the NACC Championship. The Eagles have placed inside the top two at the NACC Championship 12 times in the last 13 seasons under Oftedahl.  Since the 2006-07 season and through the 2021-22 campaign: he has coached 38 All-NACC Players, five NACC medalists, three NACC Players of the Year, three NACC Freshman of the Year, and has won multiple NACC Coach of the Year awards (most recently in 2014).

Gary Oftedahl

The Eagles have also excelled in the classroom under Oftedahl. In 2021-22, Edgewood College earned their second-straight Presidents Special Recognition from the GCAA. In 2020-21, Edgewood College was one of just 13 programs across all of Division III to recieve the Presidents Special Recognition from the GCAA. The organization recognizes programs that posted a 3.50 GPA or higher as a team for the academic year. Edgewood College has secured three Presidents Special Recognition honors under Oftedahl and is also a regular as an All-Academic Team (3.0 and above). 

In 2016, Oftedahl coached two top-4 NACC finishers for a team that was runner-up at the NACC Championships. It was the sixth time in the last seven seasons the Eagles placed top-2 in the conference. 

Oftedahl guided the 2014-15 team to a fourth-place finish in the NACC and finished just three strokes behind champion Wisconsin Lutheran. One year prior, the Eagles captured their fifth conference championship and took 35th at the NCAA Championships. 

In 2012, Oftedahl guided the men's golf team to a second place finish in the NAC Championships. The Eagles were edged by just three strokes for the title. Oftedahl helped two Eagles earn All-NAC recognition and three golfers finish in the conference's top 10 in scoring average. 

Oftedahl guided the Edgewood College men’s golf team to back-to-back NAC Championships in 2010 and 2011. In 2011, Oftedahl was named Coach of the Year for both men and women. He coached the men’s 2011 Player of the Year, Brett Quade, and also had two other Edgewood College golfers named to the All-NAC team. Oftedahl also led the women to a NAC Championship in 2011.

Mens Golf NAC Champs 2010

In Coach Oftedahl’s time with Edgewood College, the program has grown rapidly in terms of the number of golfers and in the quality of golf demonstrated within the Men’s program. The 2006 fall season brought the school’s first regular season Invitational Championships when the Eagles won two multi-school invitationals.

Oftedahl directed Edgewood College in winning the very last Lake Michigan Conference (LMC) Men’s Golf Championship in 2005 and the first Northern Athletics Conference (NAC) Men’s Golf Championship in 2006.

Coach Oftedahl holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Education from Jamestown College. Coach Oftedahl and his wife Mary have two children, a son, Reidar, and daughter, Laura.

Coach Oftedahl has also served as assistant coach for the Edgewood College women’s basketball program.

EAGLES UNDER COACH OFTEDAHL 

Year Conference Finish Highlights
2021-22 2nd
2020-21 2nd
2019-20 2nd Two Rounds in Fall Only (COVID-19)
2018-19 2nd
2017-18 2nd
2016-17 2nd
2015-16 2nd
2014-15 4th *NACC Coach of the Year
2013-14 1st *NCAA Championship Qualifier
2012-13 2nd
2011-12 1st *NAC Coach of the Year
*NCAA Championship Qualifier
2010-11 1st
2009-10 2nd
2008-09 5th
2007-08 No team score
2006-07 1st
2005-06 1st
2004-05 2nd
2003-04 2nd
2002-03 5th
2001-02 ?
2000-01 6th