Al Molde
Encyclopedia
Al Molde is a college athletics administrator and former American football
coach in the United States
. He is currently the Director of Athletics at Gustavus Adolphus College
in St. Peter, Minnesota
, having held this position since 1997. Under his guidance, the Golden Gusties have finished in the top 20 in the NCAA Division III NACDA Director's Cup
standings several times. Molde served as the head football coach at Sioux Falls College
(1971–1972), the University of Minnesota Morris (1973–1979), and Central Missouri State University
(1979–1982), Eastern Illinois University
(1983–1986), and Western Michigan University
(1987–1996), compiling a career college football
coaching record of 168–104–8.
(1971–1972), University of Minnesota Morris (1973–1979), and Central Missouri State University
(1979–1982).
located in Charleston, Illinois
and he held that position for four seasons, from 1983 until 1986. His career coaching record at Eastern Illinois was 32–15, and he guided his 1983 and 1986 teams into the NCAA Division I-AA playoffs, with the latter team finishing the season with a record of 11–2 and one of the most prolific passing offenses in the nation. As of completion of the 2007 season, he is fourth at Eastern Illinois for total wins, and third at EIU for winning percentage. While the head coach at Eastern, he tutored current New Orleans Saints
head coach Sean Payton
.
from 1987 through 1996, where he is tied as the winningest coach in school history (62–47–2) and led the Broncos to their only outright Mid-American Conference
championship in 1988. At the time of his departure, he was also among the top 10 winningest coaches in college football, with 168 wins during his 26-year career.
Western Michigan University inducted Molde into its Athletics Hall of Fame in a ceremony on October 31, 2008. Molde earned Mid-American Conference Coach of the Year honors in guiding WMU to its only outright MAC championship and a California Bowl berth in 1988. Among other highlights during his 10-year career at WMU, Molde boasts the highest home winning percentage (37–16, .698) in school history, is tied with William H. Spaulding
for the most career wins (62), coached 22 of the 100 players on WMU's "All Century Team," has the eighth-most victories among all-time MAC football coaches, and his teams led the MAC in passing offense five times (1987, 1998, 1990, 1992, 1994), total offense three times (1988, 1990, 1992), scoring offense once (1988), and rushing defense and scoring defense once (1994).
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
coach in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. He is currently the Director of Athletics at Gustavus Adolphus College
Gustavus Adolphus College
Gustavus Adolphus College is a private liberal arts college affiliated with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America located in St. Peter, Minnesota, United States. A coeducational, four-year, residential institution, it was founded in 1862 by Swedish Americans. To this day the school is firmly...
in St. Peter, Minnesota
St. Peter, Minnesota
St. Peter is a city in Nicollet County, Minnesota, United States. The population was 11,196 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Nicollet County.St...
, having held this position since 1997. Under his guidance, the Golden Gusties have finished in the top 20 in the NCAA Division III NACDA Director's Cup
NACDA Director's Cup
The NACDA Learfield Sports Directors' Cup is an award given annually by the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics to the colleges and universities with the most success in collegiate athletics...
standings several times. Molde served as the head football coach at Sioux Falls College
University of Sioux Falls
The University of Sioux Falls is a private, liberal arts college affiliated with the American Baptist Churches USA. It is also commonly called USF.-History:...
(1971–1972), the University of Minnesota Morris (1973–1979), and Central Missouri State University
University of Central Missouri
The University of Central Missouri is a four-year public institution in Warrensburg, Missouri.- History :...
(1979–1982), Eastern Illinois University
Eastern Illinois University
Eastern Illinois University is a state university located in Charleston, Illinois, United States. Established in 1895 as the Eastern Illinois State Normal School, a teacher's college offering a two-year degree, Eastern Illinois University gradually expanded into a comprehensive university with a...
(1983–1986), and Western Michigan University
Western Michigan University
Western Michigan University is a public university located in Kalamazoo, Michigan, United States. The university was established in 1903 by Dwight B. Waldo, and as of the Fall 2010 semester, its enrollment is 25,045....
(1987–1996), compiling a career college football
College football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
coaching record of 168–104–8.
Coaching career
Molde's coaching career has included stops at Sioux Falls CollegeUniversity of Sioux Falls
The University of Sioux Falls is a private, liberal arts college affiliated with the American Baptist Churches USA. It is also commonly called USF.-History:...
(1971–1972), University of Minnesota Morris (1973–1979), and Central Missouri State University
University of Central Missouri
The University of Central Missouri is a four-year public institution in Warrensburg, Missouri.- History :...
(1979–1982).
Eastern Illinois
Molde was the 20th head football coach for the Eastern Illinois University PanthersEastern Illinois Panthers
The Eastern Illinois Panthers are the men's and women's athletic teams representing Eastern Illinois University in Charleston, IL. Eastern Illinois University's colors are blue and gray. Eastern Illinois sports teams, except for men's soccer and swimming teams, participate in NCAA Division I in...
located in Charleston, Illinois
Charleston, Illinois
Charleston is a city in and the county seat of Coles County, Illinois, United States. The population was 21,838 as of the 2010 census. The city is home to Eastern Illinois University and has close ties with its neighbor Mattoon, Illinois...
and he held that position for four seasons, from 1983 until 1986. His career coaching record at Eastern Illinois was 32–15, and he guided his 1983 and 1986 teams into the NCAA Division I-AA playoffs, with the latter team finishing the season with a record of 11–2 and one of the most prolific passing offenses in the nation. As of completion of the 2007 season, he is fourth at Eastern Illinois for total wins, and third at EIU for winning percentage. While the head coach at Eastern, he tutored current New Orleans Saints
New Orleans Saints
The New Orleans Saints are a professional American football team based in New Orleans, Louisiana. They are members of the South Division of the National Football Conference of the National Football League ....
head coach Sean Payton
Sean Payton
Patrick Sean Payton is the current head coach of the New Orleans Saints of the National Football League. Payton was a quarterback at Naperville Central High School and Eastern Illinois University and played professionally in 1987 and 1988...
.
Western Michigan
Prior to his tenure at Gustavus, he was the head football coach at Western Michigan UniversityWestern Michigan University
Western Michigan University is a public university located in Kalamazoo, Michigan, United States. The university was established in 1903 by Dwight B. Waldo, and as of the Fall 2010 semester, its enrollment is 25,045....
from 1987 through 1996, where he is tied as the winningest coach in school history (62–47–2) and led the Broncos to their only outright Mid-American Conference
Mid-American Conference
The Mid-American Conference is a National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I college athletic conference with a membership base in the Great Lakes region that stretches from Western New York to Illinois. Nine of the twelve full member schools are in Ohio and Michigan, with single members...
championship in 1988. At the time of his departure, he was also among the top 10 winningest coaches in college football, with 168 wins during his 26-year career.
Western Michigan University inducted Molde into its Athletics Hall of Fame in a ceremony on October 31, 2008. Molde earned Mid-American Conference Coach of the Year honors in guiding WMU to its only outright MAC championship and a California Bowl berth in 1988. Among other highlights during his 10-year career at WMU, Molde boasts the highest home winning percentage (37–16, .698) in school history, is tied with William H. Spaulding
William H. Spaulding
William H. Spaulding was an American football player and coach of football, basketball, and baseball. Spaulding coached at UCLA from 1925 to 1938. He had a successful tenure, compiling a 72–51–8 record. He also served as the head football coach at the University of Minnesota from 1922 to 1924....
for the most career wins (62), coached 22 of the 100 players on WMU's "All Century Team," has the eighth-most victories among all-time MAC football coaches, and his teams led the MAC in passing offense five times (1987, 1998, 1990, 1992, 1994), total offense three times (1988, 1990, 1992), scoring offense once (1988), and rushing defense and scoring defense once (1994).