GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. - Emily Ottenhoff has been named head women's soccer coach at Calvin College.

 

A 2010 Calvin College graduate, Ottenhoff takes over the reins of the Calvin women's soccer program after spending the previous five years as assistant coach and recruiting coordinator of the women's soccer program at Stevens Institute of Technology.

 

Ottenhoff becomes the fifth head coach in Calvin women's soccer history.

 

"I am thrilled to announce Emily Ottenhoff as our head women's soccer coach," said Calvin Director of Athletics Dr. Jim Timmer Jr. "I am excited to see the impact that Coach Ottenhoff is going to make in the lives of our student-athletes - both on and off the field."

 

Prior to her five-year stint at Stevens, Ottenhoff was a two-year graduate assistant at Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology while completing a master's of science degree in physical education and coaching at Indiana State University.

 

Serving under Stevens head coach Jeff Parker from 2013-to-2017, she helped the Ducks reach the NCAA Division III Tournament in 2015, 2016 and 2017 including a trip to the NCAA Division III Tournament Round of 16 in 2015. In 2016, she helped Stevens post a program-best record of 19-2-0.

 

In 2014 she was named a Rising Star by the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (now United Soccer Coaches).  In 2015 and 2016, she was part of a Stevens coaching staff that was named the Empire 8 Conference Coaching Staff of the Year.  She is a member of the United Soccer Coaches (association) and holds a USSF National "C" License. 

 

While a student at Calvin, Ottenhoff was a standout two-sport athlete, spending four years with the Calvin women's soccer program and four years with the Calvin women's basketball program. 

 

A four-year starter in the midfield, Ottenhoff helped the Calvin women's soccer team reach the national quarterfinals in both 2006 and 2009. In a second round 1-0 NCAA Division III Tournament victory over Wittenberg University, she scored a memorable game-winning goal, heading in a free kick in the 42nd minute of play.

 

During her four-year Calvin soccer career the Knights were 71-10-8, making it the winningest four-year stretch in Calvin women's soccer history. Calvin captured four MIAA regular season titles during that run and made four trips to the NCAA Division III Tournament. She finished her soccer career with 32 goals, 11 assists and 75 points. Over her four years on the pitch, she was a perfect seven-for-seven on penalty kicks. Of her 32 career goals, 13 were game-winners.  

 

In 2009, she was named the MIAA's Most Valuable Player in women's soccer and was named a second team Division III All-American by the National Soccer Coaches Association of America. She was also a two-time first team All-MIAA selection during her Calvin women's soccer career and earned a spot on the NSCAA All-Central Region first team in 2009. 

 

She also served as a point guard with the Calvin women's basketball program. As a senior, she was the starting point guard on a team that finished 24-5 and reached the NCAA Division III Tournament. 

 

In 2010, she was named Calvin's recipient of the Kay Tiemersma Memorial Award. The award is presented annually to the top female senior student-athlete at Calvin that also displays leadership and Christian character.

 

Ottenhoff later served as a student assistant coach with the Calvin women's soccer team in 2010, helping the Knights win an MIAA Tournament title and reach the NCAA Division III Tournament for the sixth consecutive year. She graduated from Calvin with a bachelor of arts degree in physical education and a minor in health education. 

 

In 2011, she served as the head coach of the Holland Christian girls freshman soccer team before moving on to graduate studies at Indiana State. 

 

Ottenhoff is a native of Palos Heights, Illinois. She is a graduate of Chicago Christian High School.

 

Ottenhoff is looking forward to her new appointment with eager anticipation. 

 

"I would like to thank Dr. Jim Timmer, Provost Cheryl Brandsen, and the search committee for the opportunity to lead the Calvin College women's soccer program," said Ottenhoff. "My affinity for Calvin runs deep and I'm excited to be back at the place where my journey began."  

 

Ottenhoff also credited the mentorship of Stevens head women's soccer coach Jeff Parker for her growth as a women's soccer coach. "I would also like to thank Jeff Parker, Stevens Institute of Technology head coach, for his guidance and mentorship during my five seasons working along side him," she said. "I am fortunate Jeff created an environment where I was encouraged to find and develop my own coaching voice. My time at Stevens will prove to be invaluable as I transition into my role at Calvin."

 

Looking forward, Ottenhoff is ready to embrace the standards and beliefs that Calvin is based upon. "Calvin College is committed to creating an environment that allows students to explore their faith, pursue their passions, and empower them to be agents of renewal," said Ottenhoff.  "The women's soccer program will value growth both on and off the field as we strive to reach our full potential as individuals and as a team."

 

Ottenhoff takes over a Calvin women's soccer program that finished 12-9-0 in 2017 and reached the MIAA Tournament for the third consecutive year. She will begin her duties as head coach next month.