In his 22 seasons as head coach, Todd Oehrlein has molded the Wisconsin women’s golf program into one of the most consistently successful teams in the Big Ten and respected nationally.
The Badgers have qualified for NCAA regionals as a team six times under Oehrlein. Prior to that, UW had qualified for postseason play as a team just three times since 1975. His teams account for the top 21 single-season averages in school history, including a new best 291.77 in 2023-24 showcasing the team’s ongoing roster of talent.
The Badgers also reset the program record book in 2023-24, establishing new standards for 18 (270), 36 (560) and 54 holes (830). Chloe Chan tied the school record for 18 (65) and 36 (137) and set a new 54-hole record (202). Five of the top 10 season averages are owned by current Badgers Chan, Vanessa Ho, Carly Carter and Kate Brody.
At the conference level, UW has finished sixth or better 11 times, including third in 2010-11 and four fourth-place finishes. Most recently, Kate Brody led the Badgers to a sixth-place finish and her own second-place performance in 2025.
Wisconsin qualified for the NCAA Regional in 2018, finishing 9th as part of six-season streak of qualifying teams and individuals. The 2013 team finished seventh at the NCAA Central Regional and qualified for the NCAA National championship tournament for just the second time in school history and first under Oehrlein.
In 2011, Oehrlein led the Badgers to a fourth-place finish at the Big Ten tournament and the team’s first NCAA regional appearance since 2003. For that performance, he was named Big Ten Women’s Golf Coach of the Year.
Wisconsin coach Todd Oehrlein and Gabby Curtis
On the individual side, Oehrlein has mentored some of the most successful golfers in school history.
Brooke Ferrell is the only two-time first-team All-Big Ten golfer in UW history and continues to hold the school career scoring average record at 74.0 strokes per round. She played in three NCAA regional events, twice as a member of the Badgers’ qualifying teams (2014 and 2015) and once as an individual (2016).
Gabby Curtis put the finishing touches on a terrific career in 2017-18, becoming just the second Badger to qualify for the NCAA championship as an individual. She did so on the strength of a school-record tying 54-hole total of 209 (-7) in the NCAA regional. Curtis’ career scoring average of 74.49 is remains in the top five in school history. She played in every event during her Badger career, playing a school-record 139 rounds.
Malinda Johnson was also a two-time All-Big Ten selection, earning second-team honors as a junior and first-team laurels as a senior. She qualified for the NCAA regional as an individual in 2004 and tied for 10th place earning honorable mention All-American.
Oehrlein draws from a previous coaching experience at UW–Eau Claire where he led the Blugolds to the 2001 NCAA Men’s Division III National Golf Championship.
During his tenure at UW-Eau Claire, Oehrlein’s teams qualified for the NCAA championship all six years, finishing among the top-five four times including winning the 2001 national title. He was named the 2001 Golf Coaches Association of America (GCAA) National Coach of the Year and the 2001 Golfweek NCAA Division III National Coach of the Year. Oehrlein earned GCAA Central Region Coach of the Year honors three times during his six-year appointment.
At UW-Eau Claire, Oehrlein coached two first-team All-Americans including the 2003 Division III Player of the Year, Ryan Quinn of Galesville, Wis. He also coached four second-team All-Americans, four third-team All-Americans, and four honorable mention All-Americans. Before being named head coach, Oehrlein served as the assistant golf coach for two years beginning in 1995 at UWEC.
Oehrlein graduated in 1991 from UW-Eau Claire with a degree in biology. He was a four-year letterwinner in basketball and earned 1990 NAIA Academic All-America honors, in addition to being named WSUC All-Conference and NAIA All-District in 1991.
After earning his degree, Oehrlein continued his education at the Palmer College of Chiropractic in Davenport, Iowa, graduating magna cum laude in 1995. He returned to UW–Eau Claire as an assistant men’s basketball coach, a position he continued until coming to the UW. He helped guide the Blugold program to the national basketball tournament twice, including an NCAA Division III national runner-up finish in 2000.
Oehrlein takes an active role in the Women's Golf Coaches' Association, having served on the WGCA Board of Directors since 2013. He is currently serving his final year as the President of the WGCA.
In October of 2009, Oehrlein was recognized by his alma mater as an inductee to the Blugold Athletics Hall of Fame.
Todd and his wife Dina have one son, Nathan, and two daughters Taylor and Olivia.
The Todd Oehrlein Coaching File
Coaching Experience
- Head Coach, Women's Golf, UW-Madison (2003-Present)
- Head Coach, Men's Golf, UW-Eau Claire (1997-2003)
- Assistant Coach, Men's Basketball, UW-Eau Claire (1995-2003)
Coach of the Year Honors: 6
- 2011 Big Ten Coach of the Year
- 2003 GCAA Central Region Coach of the Year
- 2001 GCAA National Coach of the Year
- 2001 Golfweek NCAA Division III National Coach of the Year
- 2001 GCAA Central Region Coach of the Year
- 2000 GCAA Central Region Coach of the Year
National Championships: 1
- UW-Eau Claire, Men's Golf Team, 2001
National Top-Five Finishes: 4
National Qualifying Teams: 12
National Player of the Year: 1
- UW-Eau Claire, Ryan Quinn, 2003
WGCA All-American Scholar Athletes: 12
- Nicole Ciskowski, 2021
- Gia Feliciano, 2021
- Claire Fitzgerald, 2021
- Alyssa Gromala, 2021
- Eloise Healey, 2020
- Tracy Lee, 2019, 2020
- Lexi Harkins, 2018
- Jessica Reinecke, 2016, 2018, 2019
- Kimberly Dinh, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015
- Lindsay Danielson, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013
- Jeana Dahl, 2008
- Lindsay McMillan, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006
GCAA/WGCA All-Americans: 7
- Josh Dirks—1998 (3), ‘99 (2), ‘00 (HM)
- Ryan Kuhl—1999 (HM), ‘01 (2)
- Ryan Quinn—2000 (1), ‘01 (1), ‘03 (3)
- Todd Samarzia—2000 (2), ‘01 (3)
- Andy Smith—2001 (HM)
- Mark Christensen—2002 (3), 2003 (2)
- Malinda Johnson—2004 (HM)
All-Big Ten Athletes: 6
- Katie Connelly 2nd Team 2003
- Gabby Curtis 2018 (2nd),
- Katie Elliott 2007 (2nd)
- Brooke Ferrell 2017 (1st), 2016 (1st), 2015 (2nd)
- Malinda Johnson 2004 (1st), 2003 (2nd)
- Kris Yoo 2013 (2nd)
Big Ten Golfers of the Week: 14
- Chloe Chan: Feb. 28, 2024
- Tess Hackworthy, 9/25/19
- Lexi Harkins, 10/11/17
- Jessia Reinecke, 2/8/17
- Brooke Ferrell, 10/21/15, 2/24/16, 10/26/16
- Gabby Curtis, 2/11/15
- Kris Yoo, 9/25/13
- Kimberly Dinh, 3/20/13
- Lindsay Danielson, 10/17/12
- Jessie Gerry, 9/28/11
- Katie Elliot, 3/3/06, 3/5/08
- Lindsay McMillan, 3/4/05
- Jackie Obermueller, 2/17/05
- Malinda Johnson, 4/4/02, 2/26/04, 3/4/04, 3/24/04
UW-Eau Claire Athletics Hall of Fame
