A former team captain and standout for the Wisconsin women’s soccer program, Marisa Kresge is entering her first year as assistant coach for the Badgers.

After graduating from UW in 2016, Kresge spent one season with Illinois State, helping the Redbirds to a 14-6-3 record last year. With Kresge’s assistance on the sidelines, ISU reached new heights, winning the Missouri Valley Conference Tournament title and earning a trip to the second round of the NCAA Tournament.

Additional coaching experience for Kresge includes time with the Verona Soccer Club, where she served as the head bench boss for the U-11 and U-12 girls’ teams, was the assistant coach for the U-11 girls’ team and the U-12 boys’ team, while also coaching a skills clinic ranging from U-6 to U-15.

Kresge earned a bachelor’s degree in kinesiology, physical education and adapted physical education during her time as a student-athlete at Wisconsin, where she competed three years for the Badgers.

The Severna Park, Maryland, native started 19 of the 20 matches during her senior season and was the team captain while earning Academic All-Big Ten honors for the second year in a row.

Off the field, Kresge was named to the UW-Madison School of Education Dean’s List in 2014 and to the ACC Academic Honor Roll in 2011. She was also the recipient of the Big Ten Sportsmanship Award in 2013 and a member of the Leadership Group at Wisconsin in 2015.

With Kresge on the squad, that Badgers had two of the most successful seasons in program history, claiming the Big Ten tournament title in 2014 and the league’s regular season crown in 2015. Kresge finished her career with seven goals, including one game-winning goal and a pair of assists.