Following up on my post on X from earlier today. Here is the D3 opening that I was talking about…
Macalester College head men’s basketball coach Abe Woldeslassie ’08 is resigning his position to become an assistant coach at Division I University of Denver, Macalester Director of Athletics Donnie Brooks announced today. Woldeslassie spent seven seasons at his alma mater.
“Since taking over the men’s basketball program, Abe has led a remarkable transformation, not just on the court, but by building bridges across the Twin Cities,” Brooks said. “He inherited a team that had won just 35 games over the previous 10 seasons and turned it into a competitive, energized program that helped renew our belief in what’s possible at Macalester. The 2022 MIAC Playoff run was a defining moment, and a testament to Abe’s leadership and vision. While we are saddened to see him go, we’re incredibly proud of what he’s accomplished here and excited to see what lies ahead for him.”
A 2008 Macalester graduate, Woldeslassie returned to his alma mater in 2018 and quickly transformed the Scots into competitors in the MIAC. After steady improvement over his first four years, Woldeslassie led Macalester to an improbable run through the 2022 MIAC Playoffs that saw the Scots upset Carleton and Augsburg on the road in front of pro-Macalester crowds. The 75-71 loss to Saint John’s in the final marked the first time since 2004 that the Scots advanced to the championship game of the MIAC Playoffs. Following that year, Woldeslassie was named the Region 9 Coach of the Year by D3hoops.com. In 2022-23, he mentored the Scots to another winning season and playoff appearance, marking the program’s first back-to-back winning seasons in over 40 years. His overall record at Macalester is 66-92 over seven seasons.
During his time at Macalester, Woldeslassie recruited and coached seven All-MIAC players. Among his recruits were Caleb Williams ’24, who was a three-time All-MIAC and All-Region guard who also earned Academic All-American honors twice, and Badou Ba (Washington, D.C./Williston Northampton), the 2023 MIAC Defensive Player of the Year.
Woldeslassie was a standout player himself for the Scots from 2006-08 after transferring from St. Thomas. As a Scot, he was a two-time, All-MIAC guard and led the conference in assists both seasons. In 50 career games, Woldeslassie averaged 17.2 points and 5.4 assists per game while totaling 858 points. He graduated in 2008 with a degree in sociology. A native of Minneapolis, Minn., Woldeslassie attended St. Thomas Academy, where he was an all-conference player and team co-MVP in 2004.
Prior to returning to Macalester, Woldeslassie spent five years on the coaching staffs at Division I schools Dartmouth, Davidson and Siena. At Denver, he joins new head coach Tim Bergstraser, who was hired to lead the Pioneers after three successful seasons as the head coach at Minnesota State-Moorhead.
“Thank you to the entire Macalester College community for a life-changing experience in St. Paul,” Woldeslassie said. “I spent seven years as head coach and two years as a student-athlete at Mac, and I have immense gratitude for the people I was able to spend time with each day. Our administration, my colleagues in the athletic department, our faculty and staff, and our loyal alums all make Macalester an amazing place.
“Special thanks to our assistant coaches and student-managers for all of the time and energy they have invested to help our team improve each day. Most importantly, thank you to all of our student-athletes past and present for all that they have given and continue to give to our program. We made many great memories together and I am lucky to have coached amazing young men who are about the right things. The Macalester community is stronger because of you. I’m forever a proud Minneapolis native, and forever a Macalester alum. GO SCOTS!”
A national search for Woldeslassie’s replacement will begin immediately.
