University of St. Thomas Athletics
Gretta Macdonald named head women's soccer coach
12/17/2025 1:26:00 PM | Women's Soccer
ST. PAUL, MINN. – After a national search, the University of St. Thomas Vice President, Director of Athletics Dr. Phil Esten announced Gretta Macdonald will serve as the next head coach of the women's soccer program. Macdonald will be the fifth coach in program history.
"I am absolutely thrilled to welcome Gretta and her family to St. Paul and the University of St. Thomas," said Esten. "As we navigated through this process, Gretta's commitment to building culture was authentic and deliberate, which has proven to deliver comprehensive excellence on the pitch, in the classroom, and within the community. She brings strong experience and a proven track record to our women's soccer program, while her commitment to the holistic student-athlete experience and competitive excellence aligns with the mission of both our athletics department and the University. The future is bright with Gretta Macdonald leading our women's soccer program."
"As a Minnesota native, I am grateful and excited for the opportunity to lead and transform the University of St. Thomas women's soccer program," commented Macdonald. "I want to thank Director of Athletics Phil Esten, Deputy Athletics Director Cory Chapman and the hiring committee for trusting me as we enter a new era and build a premiere NCAA Division I women's soccer program."
THE MACDONALD FILE
- Joins the Tommies after 12 seasons at St. Cloud State University in St. Cloud, Minnesota
- Compiled a 105-72-36 record with the Huskies and the 2023 NSIC Regular Season Championship
- 3x NCAA Division II Tournament participant (2023-25)
- 2x NSIC Coach of the Year (2023, 2025)
- Entering 2025, coached 42 All-NSIC and 10 All-Region honorees; coached 2023 NSIC Freshman of the Year Linsey Trapino
- Coached 131 NSIC All-Academic honorees
- Served as an assistant coach at Central Michigan University (2013-14) and Minnesota State (2008-13)
- Graduate assistant at South Dakota State (2007-08)
- Four-year member of Creighton University women's soccer team (2003-07)
GRETTA MACDONALD
Macdonald joins the Tommies after 12 seasons as the head coach at St. Cloud State University. In her time with the Huskies, Macdonald compiled an overall record of 105-72-36 and was named the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC) Coach of the Year in both 2023 and 2025. During the last three seasons, Macdonald led St. Cloud State to three consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances and the program's first NSIC Championship in 2023. Overall, she compiled four 10-win seasons and eight NSIC Tournament appearances.
Prior to her move to St. Cloud State in 2014, Macdonald was an assistant soccer coach at Central Michigan University, where her responsibilities included Director of Internal Operations and Director of the CMU Soccer Academy. She also served as an assistant coach at Minnesota State from 2008-2013, taking on the role of interim head coach in 2013.
A native of Pine Springs, Minnesota, Macdonald played collegiate soccer at Creighton University from 2003 to 2007, earning four letters, and was on the SAAC Committee and Team Leadership Council. The Bluejays won two Missouri Valley Conference Championships and made two NCAA Tournament appearances.
After graduating from Creighton with a degree in mass communication and public relations, Macdonald was a graduate assistant coach at South Dakota State University for the 2007-08 season. She has a master's degree in educational leadership from Minnesota State University.
