Melissa Kuhar, shown talking with a Drury women’s soccer player, has been named the head coach of Michigan Tech’s program Monday. (Photo courtesy of Drury University)

HOUGHTON — Michigan Tech VP for Athletics and Recreation Suzanne Sanregret has named Melissa Kuhar as the third soccer head coach in the program’s history announced Monday. Kuhar comes to Houghton after four seasons as an assistant coach at Drury.

“I am pleased to welcome Melissa to Michigan Tech,” Sanregret said. “She brings a wealth of knowledge and experience as an assistant for seven years at the collegiate level. I believe her enthusiasm for guiding student-athletes on and off the field will make her a great fit for our program.”

“I am excited and honored to be named the next head coach of the Michigan Tech soccer program,” Kuhar said. “I want to thank Suzanne Sanregret, Rhys Edwards, and the entire search committee for entrusting me with this amazing opportunity.”

“From the moment I stepped foot on campus and in the Houghton community, I knew this would be a good fit for me. The academic and athletic reputation of Michigan Tech is top notch and I am confident I can help build something special here. I am beyond thrilled that I get to work with a great group of student-athletes on and off the field. There is a tremendous pride and sense of community throughout the Athletics Department and I can not wait to be a part of the Husky family.”

“I would also like to thank my family and friends for their constant support over the years. Another big thank you to my boss for the last eight years, Justin Olson. I would not be the coach I am today without his guidance. I have tremendous gratitude for the players and staff that shared in my journey at Drury University, thank you for believing in me.”

Kuhar has served as an assistant coach under head coach Justin Olson, spending the last four seasons at Division II Institution Drury, an affiliate of the Great Lakes Valley Conference. She helped the Panthers to an overall record of 39-18-15 in four seasons, which included a GLVC Championship in 2021 and the program’s first NCAA Tournament bid since 2007. That year Olson and Kuhar were honored as NCAA Midwest Region Coaching Staff of the Year.

She was also the head girls’ soccer coach at Greenwood High School in Springfield, where she guided the Blue Jays to the Missouri state semifinals, a third-place finish in Class 1 and a 16-4 record in her first season at Greenwood.

Prior to her four seasons as the assistant coach for Drury, Kuhar served three years as an assistant coach at Bethany College under Coach Olson where the Swedes went 27-24-4 during the duos three years at Bethany. She also worked as a sports information assistant and an adjunct professor teaching classes in the Exercise Science department. 

Kuhar also coached at the high school level with stints at Salina and Saint Joseph High School, where she helped Saint Joseph reach the Indiana 3A State semifinals.

Kuhar played collegiate soccer at St. Joseph’s, Ind., a former NCAA Division II GLVC affiliate institution from 2014-16 and graduated with a degree in Sport Management. She also owns a master’s degree in Sports Administration from the American Public University System.