An All-America defender for the Wisconsin men's soccer team from 2003-06, Aaron Hohlbein returned the program and joined its coaching staff in 2015 as an assistant coach. A native of Middleton, Hohlbein has proven an invaluable part of the Badgers' coaching with his wealth of experience and knowledge.
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| The Hohlbein File |
| Name:Â Aaron Hohlbein |
| Alma Mater:Â Wisconsin, 2006 |
| Collegiate Coaching Experience |
| • Assistant Coach, UW, 2015-Present |
| Playing Experience |
| • Played three years in MLS |
| • MLS Supplemental Draft third overall, Kansas City |
| • All-American center back at Wisconsin, 2006 |
After intensive instruction with Sam Brotherton, Hohlbein’s work with the young Badger payed off greater than anyone could imagine. Two years after Hohlbein joined the UW staff, then-captain Brotherton declared for the English Premier League. Brotherton signed with AFC Sunderland – the first Badger to sign into the Premiere league directly from UW.
The great defensive work Hohlbein put forth in practice and the offseason paid dividends to the Badger offense, and, more specifically, Christopher Mueller. Mueller soared his way to third-team All-American in 2016 and second-team All-American in 2017, the program's first two-time All-American.
The last Badger to claim an All-American selection was A.J. Cochran in 2013. The person before him? Hohlbein himself.
In his first year as an assistant coach at Wisconsin, Hohlbein worked with Sam Brotherton and helped groom the young defender into a 2015 Big Ten All-Freshman Team honoree. Brotherton went on to earn his first international cap with New Zealand and even started for the All Whites at the 2016 OFC Nations Cup.
Hohlbein remains one of seven in program history to earn All-America distinction as a third-team selection his senior season. A first-team All-Great Lakes Region honoree as a senior, Hohlbein started all 77 games of his collegiate career and tallied six goals and seven assists for the Badgers.
The UW playing career of Hohlbein is a decorated one. He was first team All-Big Ten in 2005 and 2006, second team All-Big Ten in 2003 and 2004, and made the Big Ten All-Freshman Team and College Soccer News All-Freshman Second Team in 2003. Elevating his play when it mattered most, he was recognized on the Big Ten All-Tournament Team in 2003, 2005 and 2006.
A leader as an upperclassman, Hohlbein served as a team captain in both 2005 and 2006.
Hohlbein was drafted in 2007 MLS Supplemental Draft third overall by the Kansas City Wizards and played in the MLS for three years. Hohlbein made 43 appearances at defender for the full squad and 14 appearances for the reserve team, tallying two career goals and one assist.
He was loaned from Kansas City to Miami FC (USSF Division 2) for the final 10 games of the 2010 season. There, he was quickly named team captain with five games remaining in the season and led the club to an unbeaten finish to the year.
Signing with the Fort Lauderdale Strikers of the NASL in 2011, Hohlbein was immediately named a team captain. He started all 14 games until a season ending knee injury occurred.
U.S. National Team experience for Hohlbein includes being a member of the Under-23 National Team Olympic Pool in 2007-08. He trained at the U-23 National Team Training Camp in 2007 and toured China under head coach Peter Novak. In 2003, Hohlbein attended the U-20 National Team Training Camp and trained under head coach Thomas Rongen.
Coaching was something that interested Hohlbein even during his playing days, as he coached youth camps and clinics for the Kansas City Wizards and Fort Lauderdale Strikers professional clubs from 2007-11. Since 2013, he has served as a youth academy coach and tournament director specializing in coaching U-10, U-11 and U-12 boys.
