Dr. Al Molde achieved unprecedented success during his 15-year career as Gustavus’s Director of Athletics from 1997-2012. A no-nonsense, hard-working gentleman who strove for excellence in everything he did, Dr. Molde guided the Athletics Department to 14 top-25 finishes in the NACDA Directors’ Cup, highlighted by a sixth-place finish in 2002-03. Under Dr. Molde’s watch, Gustavus also won six Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference All-Sport titles.
Dr. Molde, a 1966 graduate of Gustavus, was named the College’s eighth full-time Director of Athletics in 1997 and immediately began shaping the future of Golden Gustie athletics. In his first year as the AD, Dr. Molde added women’s hockey as a varsity sport, which has since grown into a national powerhouse. The Montevideo, Minnesota native quickly earned the respect of his staff and was supportive of all coaches, having been a successful football coach for 26 years prior to taking the role at Gustavus.
Dr. Molde used a structured and orderly approach to running the Athletic Department. He oversaw three significant facility upgrades, highlighted by the $4.6 million football stadium project in 2007. He also led the process of constructing the College’s outdoor track & field/soccer facility in 2001 and significant upgrades to the softball field in 2008. During Dr. Molde’s reign as AD, Gustavus teams captured 77 MIAC championships and student-athletes garnered 395 All-America awards. Dr. Molde hired eight head coaches that still hold their positions six years after his retirement. He was honored with the MIAC Distinguished Service Award in 2012.
After retiring in 2012, Dr. Molde returned to the football coaching ranks for one season in 2013 with the Saarland Hurricanes of the German Football League. Al and his wife, Ingrid ’68, have enjoyed retirement while traveling the world from their lake home and spending time with their eight grandchildren. They are the proud parents of Michael (Carrie), Brian (Kim), Matthew (Melissa), and Evan ’01 (Tiffany ‘02).
