POUGHKEEPSIE, N.Y. – Vassar women's soccer head coach Corey Holton has announced the hiring of Julie Grutzner as the new assistant coach for the Brewers women's soccer program. She will also serve as a facilities assistant for the athletics department.

"I am thrilled to welcome Julie to our staff. I am looking forward to working with such a professional and experienced coach," stated Holton. "She brings a wealth of knowledge and a winning pedigree to our staff.  Her experiences to date will help bring VCWS to the next level and I believe the team will benefit greatly from her coming on board."

Grutzner comes to Vassar following a season as the head coach of women's soccer at SUNY Purchase. During her tenure, she helped guide the Panthers to a 7-8 overall record in 2019, going 3-7 in Skyline Conference action. The team scored three or more goals six times during the season, while two players were named to the All-Skyline Conference First Team.

Before her time at Purchase, Grutzner spent 13 years at the helm of Oregon High School's soccer program where she boasted a career coaching record of 169-62-32 overall. Under her guidance, the Oregon girls team won the WIAA Division 2 State Title in 2015, were runner-up in 2016 and 2018, and were state qualifiers in 2017. 

Following the 2015 season, Grutzner was named Wisconsin Soccer Coaches Association Coach of the Year, NSCAA WI Coach of the Year and the Wisconsin State Journal All Area Coach of the Year. She returned as the WI State Journal Coach of the Year in 2016, was co-coach in 2017, and won it again in 2018. Grutzner also received the Madison Sports Hall of Fame Special Recognition Award for the undefeated 2015 season (23-0-1).

In addition to her notable coaching career at OHS, Grutzner was a teacher at St. Ann School for 10 years (2008-18) and also served as the top assistant coach at Edgewood College from 2015-17. She also coached for the Wisconsin ODP (Olympic Development) program for several years. Prior to that, she was the assistant coach at Middleton High School and Robbinsdale Armstrong High School in Minnesota. Grutzner also coached club soccer for the Oregon Soccer Club, Madison 56ers and the Wayzata Soccer Club.

Grutzner was also a three-sport athlete at Madison Lafollette High School, competing year-round on the volleyball, basketball and soccer teams. She also played for the Madison 56ers.

Playing collegiately for the UW-Green Bay women's soccer team, Grutzner helped lead the women's soccer team to a regional ranking and its most successful record to date at 13-4-2 during her junior campaign. She was named team captain her senior year and finished the season on the All-Conference and All-Tournament 2nd Teams. She capped a
stellar playing career with two years of semi-professional soccer for the Madison Freeze (1996-97).

Grutzner was a trainer for Fairfield United Soccer Association (U10, U16 premiere) and for CT Rush. She also holds a USSF C License, USSF Youth National License, United Soccer Coaches Association National Diploma and a United Soccer Association Level 1 Goalkeeper License.

The UW-Green Bay graduate earned her bachelor's in communications in 1995, later earning a master's degree in elementary education from the University of Phoenix in 2004.

Grutzner resides in Fairfield, CT with her husband Jon and their daughter Maddie.