by Cori Hilsgen
news@thenewsleaders.com
Michael Engdahl was recently hired as the new head tennis coach at the College of St. Benedict.
Engdahl replaces CSB coach Scott Larsen, who left the program in May after 10 years.
“I could not be more excited to be the new tennis coach at CSB,” Engdahl said. “Having the opportunity to coach a team in the community I grew up in is amazing. On top of that, everyone I’ve met on campus so far has been great to work with, and you can tell the future is bright at CSB. I can’t wait for the students to arrive this fall and get to work. It is going to be an incredible year for us, both on and off the court, and we are going to enjoy every second of it.”
Engdahl said the team’s first practice was Aug. 31. He is coaching seven returning CSB athletes from last year’s team and six new freshman players.
Last year’s team finished 6-11 and 3-7 in the conference.
“We are going to focus on having fun, enjoying the process and setting high goals for the tennis program – including finishing high enough in conference to make the playoffs.,” Engdahl said. “The ultimate goal is to create a culture of excitement surrounding the tennis program, build a solid reputation of doing things the right way on and off the court and creating an elite tennis program that everyone wants to be a part of.”
CSB Athletic Director Glen Werner said he is glad Engdahl is joining CSB athletics.
“We are thrilled to welcome Mike to the College of St. Benedict,” Werner said. “As a local tennis player from Tech High School, it’s a welcome home of sorts for him. Mike’s background at the Division I level as a player and a coach brings great benefit to our program, and his addition to our already talented coaching staff means we have an amazing team to work with our student-athletes.”
Engdahl is a 2004 graduate of St. Cloud Technical High School who made it to the National Collegiate Athletic Association Division II National Tennis Tournament at St. Cloud State University and then transferred to South Dakota State University in Brookings where he played singles and doubles for the tennis team.
Engdahl said he transferred to SDSU because of its biology program and earned a bachelor’s degree in biology from there.
After graduation from SDSU, Engdahl was the assistant coach, and then head coach for both the men’s and women’s teams. While there, he coached 14 all-conference players. His players were able to break school records for most wins in a season, most individual wins in a season and most career wins for both the men’s and women’s teams. Both the men’s and women’s teams made it to the conference finals for the first time in school history. The women’s team made it to the conference championship in 2015 and 2016.
At SDSU, Engdahl was named Summit League Coach of the Year in 2013 and 2014.
He also owned and operated the Michael Engdahl Tennis Academy from 2006-11 and was the head tennis instructor at the St. Cloud Country Club from 2005-11.
Engdahl and his wife, Carrie, moved back to the area in May and live in St. Cloud. Carrie is a pharmacist at the St. Cloud Veteran’s Administration Hospital.
He said Carrie’s career opportunity in St. Cloud and the fact they could be closer to family and friends helped them make the decision to move back home from South Dakota.
Michael Engdahl was recently hired as the new head tennis coach at the College of St. Benedict. Engdahl replaces CSB coach Scott Larsen, who left the program in May after 10 years. He is coaching seven CSB returning players from last year’s team.
Michael Engdahl was recently hired as the new head tennis coach at the College of St. Benedict. Engdahl replaces CSB coach Scott Larsen, who left the program in May after 10 years. He is coaching seven CSB returning players from last year’s team.
