Photo Courtesy of Mica Mulloy ’99 | Mr. Scooter Molander watches as the play unravels on the field. His 13-year career included two state championships.

By Jack Davis ’19

THE ROUNDUP

In late November, Mr. Scooter Molander decided to step aside from his role as Brophy’s varsity football head coach.

“I’m a competitive person,” Mr. Molander said. “I’ve been around the game of football for every year except for one since 1974, either playing or coaching. That certainly will be different.”

Mr. Molander said that the relationships he’s built with his players, students and coaching staff was his favorite part of his 13-year head coaching career.

Mr. Molander chose to step down from his post in order to help care for his ailing parents.

“The most important thing was for Coach Molander to be able to be there for his family in one of the toughest years of his family’s life, and to put family first is the best choice and one that’s supported by Brophy,” said Athletic Director Mr. Bill Woods.

Mr. Molander’s career included two state championships.

“You cannot overstate how big that was for our school,” Mr. Woods said.

Starting left tackle Bert Odinet ’18 said that Mr. Molander helped him develop leadership skills and appreciate the value of hard work.

“He never let the technicalities of the game get in the way of developing the players into better men and athletes,” Odinet said.

Brophy Principal Mr. Bob Ryan said that Mr. Molander has been a great member of the community and has been a great model for young men.

“Some of the things that I admire most about him, first of all, would be his commitment to his family,” he said. “To his kids, and his wife, and his parents, and that’s evident in his decision here and I think that’s been a great role model for our boys.”

Mr. Ryan added that Mr. Molander’s work ethic will be missed by the football program.

“He’s one of the hardest working people I know, one of the most disciplined, and I think those are great values that our boys, particularly those on the football team, have learned,” Mr. Ryan said. “He gives everything he does 110 percent.”

Mr. Woods praised the direction that Mr. Molander provided the football team.

“He’s been a great leader,” Mr. Woods said. “He was a quarterbacks coach for Brophy. He’s had tremendous leadership and is just a good man.”

Mr. Molander said that he may end up coaching his son Mack, a seventh grader.

“I very rarely ever got to see my two sons play Pop Warner as I was coaching myself, for the number of hours that’s required to be a high school coach is quite endless,” he said.

Mr. Ryan said that Mr. Molander will still continue to serve as a social studies and physical education teacher.