By Hannah Walker

On Mar. 16 the Macalester Athletics Department hired Gregg Olson as the new men’s soccer head coach. Olson replaces Ian Barker, whose nine-year tenure as head coach of the men’s program came to an end this February after accepting an offer from the National Soccer Coaches Association of America to serve as the Director of Coaching Education. Olson comes to Macalester with coaching experience from across the nation. Most recently, Olson served as the assistant coach of the Stanford University men’s soccer program in Palo Alto, California, where he coached the Cardinals for four years. Prior to that, he held the position of assistant coach at his alma mater, the University of Vermont, from 2003 to 2008. During his tenure at Vermont, Olson helped the Catamounts reach the America East Conference tournament four years in a row. He has also coached in Illinois. Olson’s collegiate soccer career at the University of Vermont included being awarded All-Tournament his sophomore year and the UVM award for preference, integrity and sportsmanship three times. After graduating in 2000, he played semi-professionally for the Vermont Voltage and the Milwaukee Rampage. “I am honored to be joining Macalester College as the next head men’s soccer coach,” Olson said in a press release by the Macalester Athletics Department. “The school has an incredible academic and athletic reputation and I look forward to continuing my development at such a fine institution.” Olson remarked in the press release that he hopes to help the Macalester men’s team, “further develop… both academically and athletically.” The men’s team ended their 2011 campaign 10-7-1, missing out on a MIAC playoff bid on a tiebreaker to Augsburg. refresh –>