Coaches

Gregg Olson

Gregg Olson will begin his 12th year and 11th season in the fall of 2023 at Macalester as head coach. Olson rebuilt and has now sustained the program as a MIAC, regional and national power.


Under Olson's guidance, Macalester has the MIAC's second-longest streak of consecutive conference playoff appearances in men's soccer. Since 2015, the Scots captured a MIAC regular-season championship, advanced to the finals of the MIAC Playoffs twice, ranked as high as No. 6 nationally and posted a MIAC record of 51-20-10 (.691). Olson also has been named the MIAC Coach of the Year and the North Region Coach of the year.


Olson’s squads have consistently performed exceptionally well in the classroom. Two of the last three seasons the team’s cumulative grade point average was the highest GPA in the nation among 820 men’s soccer programs nationally across all divisions. In 2022-23, the team’s cumulative grade point average was enough to secure the No. 2 GPA in the nation and top in the MIAC.


Olson was at Stanford University in Stanford, California, for four seasons and held the David and Kathy Carey Assistant Directorship for Stanford men's soccer in 2011.


A four-year starter for the soccer team and 2000 graduate from the University of Vermont, Olson began his collegiate coaching career at his alma mater in 2002 before moving on to become an assistant for Stanford in 2008. Coaching many All-Pac 10 selections, Olson aided in developing future MLS players, Academic All-Americans, and a Hermann Trophy semi-finalist. In 2009, the Cardinal advanced to the NCAA Division I “Sweet 16”. At Vermont, he helped the Catamounts reach the conference tourney four times, win the 2007 America East Conference, and reach the second round of the NCAA Division I tournament. Olson coached and recruited numerous current professional players and each season of his collegiate career his teams have earned the United Soccer Coaches Academic Team Award.


In addition to coaching at Macalester, Olson is the Executive Director of the Minneapolis United Soccer Club, overseeing all of the club's operations. He previously has coached for several clubs, including Palo Alto SC (Calif.), Santa Clara Sporting (Calif.), and Nordic SC (Vt.). Olson has led his club teams to eight state championships, a regional championship, and won such prestigious events as Surf Cup, USA Cup and Cerritos. His club teams have ranked as high as No. 3 in the nation (GotSoccer).


A native of Rockford, Illinois, Olson graduated in 2000 with a Bachelor of Science degree in English and Geography from the University of Vermont, where he was team captain as a senior. Olson also was a three-time winner of the team's Donoson Fitzgerald Award for Perseverance, Integrity and Sportsmanship. After graduating from college, Olson spent two seasons playing semi-professionally before beginning his coaching career. Olson resides in St. Paul. He and his wife, Sarah, have two sons - Palmer (14) and William (11).