Fred Wagenaar

Fred Wagenaar begins his third year as head coach of the women’s soccer team at Graceland.

Wagenaar arrived at Graceland in 2004 as the men’s and women’s goalkeeper coach. That season the women went over 1,000 minutes without surrendering a goal, and went on to the national tournament for the first time in their history, advancing to the Final Four. The 2004 goalkeeper was named All-conference, and the 2005 goalkeeper was named All-conference second team. In 2006 the new women’s goalkeeper was again named All-conference first team. The men’s goalkeeper was named National Tournament MVP, for not surrendering a single goal in the Graceland men’s journey to the 2006 National Championship.

In his second year at Graceland, after compiling a record of 14-1-2, the women’s team again went to the National Tournament, advancing to the Elite Eight. In 2006 Wagenaar’s Lady Yellowjackets again had a stellar season, with a record of 17-1-0. In his three years at Graceland the women’s team has a regular season record of 47-2-4.

In 2005 Wagenaar became an accredited American Council Exercise personal trainer. He oversees the program’s off-season weight training. Wagenaar has coached for over 20 years and has coached all ages, from 5 to university age. While his four sons were growing up they won more than 30 individual trophies as player nominated MVP, and he credits them with him having collected more than 70 first or second place trophies for season or tournament success. He coached Club Roma U-19 in Ontario, Canada, with three of his four sons on the roster, to the Ontario Cup finals, losing in penalty kicks. When his youngest son was named to the Canadian National Team U-15 as a goalkeeper, he went on to keep that role through two FIFA U-20 World Championship tournaments. The resulting time commitment meant that Fred had to give up coaching, and concentrate on Josh’s goalkeeping progress.

Wagenaar studied level one and level two national coaching theory at Mohawk College. He took level one and level two practical levels at Richmond Hill, and Brock University. At Brock University he studied under Bill Millar, a former national coach of the Canadian Women’s team. When Fred came to the States he took his “D” license, and the NSCAA’s National Goalkeeping diploma.

Fred’s personal playing experience started with the Saltfleet Go-Ahead’s soccer club at their inception, when they were willing to sign anyone who could actually breathe. He played defense on teams that were routinely beaten 5-0, and he’s still not sure if that was in spite of, or because of, his defensive skills. He earned team MVP honors and represented the Hamilton area in the CANUSA games. He attended Hamilton Christian High School, and was varsity player for four years in soccer, basketball, cross country and track and field. He was captain of the soccer and basketball teams. Fred also played rugby in his final year at Saltfleet District High School, and was the team’s leading scorer and kicker.

Wagenaar has been happily married to his wife Kathy for 29 years, and has four sons, Mark, (Poet studying at University of Virginia), Jesse, (teacher in Las Vegas), Ben (seminary school in Springfield, Missouri), and Josh (professional soccer player in Holland). Fred is currently enrolled in education classes at Graceland in order to get his teaching certification. In his spare time he likes to read, lift weights, and dream about finding a keeper with 6 foot arms.