Woodbury High School is returning with another strong team in 2023 and John Engen will lead the charge as the Boys Varsity Soccer Coach once again. John Engen will return after a successful first year campaign that saw the 2022 team capture the 4AAA Section Championship and finish Runners-up in the Class 3A High School State Soccer Championship.

Coach Engen brings a depth of knowledge and experience to the WHS Boys Soccer Program having been involved in several local high school and elite club programs.  John’s assistant varsity coaching experience includes assisting Danny Storlein from Minnesota Thunder Academy at Bloomington Jefferson (2012-2019) and assisting former WHS Soccer standout Brian Kallman ‘02 at St. Thomas Academy (2020-2021). Engen also served at his alma mater Park High School on the sidelines as an assistant varsity coach (2007-2012). Engen also has extensive club experience with Minnesota Thunder Academy from 2012-2020 being named MTA Coach of the Year in 2017. Engen has been coaching Girls High Performance Soccer with the Salvo Soccer Club since 2019. He spent several years working with Cottage Grove United in his early years of coaching club soccer.  

Graduating from Park High School, John was an active student-athlete playing soccer as a 3 year varsity player, 2 year captain and 2 year all-conference, along with being named all-state honorable mention his senior  year.  While in high school he played in the Olympic Development Program and played club for Cottage Grove United and then the Bangu Club.

 John has worked in South Washington County Schools since 2007 as a sixth grade math teacher at Cottage Grove Middle School.  He is currently finishing his masters degree at Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota - Twin Cities in instruction.  He earned his Bachelor's degree at Winona State University. 

John brings a strong skill set of coaching soccer at the high school level and elite club level training. As an educator, he is committed to leading the boys soccer program competitively and with a growth mindset set to be the best that they can be on and off the field.