Courtesy of Caldwell Athletics

CALDWELL, N.J. (July 3, 2012) – Caldwell College Executive Director of Athletics Mark A. Corino has announced the hiring of Asgeir Ofstad to coach the men’s soccer team. Ofstad, who was a standout defender for the Cougars in 2005 and 2006, returns to Caldwell after coaching youth soccer for the past five years.

“We are happy to welcome Asgeir back to Caldwell as our men’s soccer coach,” Corino said. “He was an outstanding student-athlete for us, and we feel he will bring the same determination and commitment he had as a player to our men’s soccer program as the head coach.”

Ofstad has been a part of the New York Red Bulls as a youth coach for the past two years. He also coaches two teams with West Orange United, and has coached teams for clubs in Florham Park, Roxbury and Holmdel since 2008. Prior to moving to New Jersey, Ofstad was the coaching coordinator for Kolstad FK in Kolstad, Norway. He earned a national coaching diploma in Norway.

While at Caldwell, Ofstad was a two-time all-Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference defender who led the Cougars to back-to-back, 12-win seasons. The CACC Newcomer of the Year in 2005, Ofstad also was an all-New England Region selection in both 2005 and 2006. He was a key part of a Cougar defense that limited opponents to 17 goals in 19 games in 2006. Also a good student, Ofstad received Academic All-District and CACC All-Academic honors while at Caldwell.

“I am very excited to become a part of the men’s soccer program at Caldwell,” said Ofstad, who lives in West Caldwell. “I missed the school and the close community that we have here, and I consider it an honor to come back to coach at a place I love. We didn’t win a conference championship when I was here as a player, so I’m looking forward to working towards achieving that goal.”

A native of Trondheim, Norway, Ofstad graduated from the University of Trondheim with a degree in education in 2007. He currently works as a math teacher for fifth through eighth graders at PRIDE Academy Charter School in East Orange.