Mark Molder enters second season leading leading the CIU women's basketball program after being hired in March of 2024. Additionally midway through his first year with the Rams, Molder was named CIU's assistant athletic director.
Molder came to CIU after a short stint in the private sector following over a decade coaching for his alma mater, established fellow NAIA institution Oklahoma Wesleyan University (OKWU).
While with the Eagles, Molder served in several different roles, including assistant men's basketball coach, head men's basketball coach, head women's basketball, and athletic director.
Molder got his start in college athletics with OKWU, spending four seasons as the men's assistant, where he helped the Eagles to four NAIA Championship Tournament appearances, two NAIA Final Fours, and the 2009 NAIA Division II National Championship. In his time as the men's assistant Molder helped recruit and develop three NAIA Division II National Players of the Year.
Molder then served as the head women's coach for OKWU from 2011 to 2014, the head men's basketball coach from 2014 to 2017, and then returned as the head women's coach from 2017 to 2019.
While at the helm of the women's program, Molder led the Eagles to two NAIA Championship Tournaments and guided OKWU to their only Midlands Collegiate Athletic Conference (MCAC) Championship in women's basketball program history. During his time as the Eagles women's coach, Molder was twice named the NCCAA Division I Central Region Coach of the Year as well as the MCAC Coach of the Year in 2013.
Molder's women's programs produced three NAIA All-Americans.
On top of his coaching experience, Molder was a standout on the hardwood as four-year player for OKWU, graduating with an undergraduate degree in Exercise Science in 2000. Molder also holds an MBA from OKWU which he obtained in 2010.
During Molder's time in higher education, he was deeply involved in both the Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA) and other church-sponsored community events.
Molder has been married to his wife Kandi for 25 years, and together they have twin sons, Grant and Cameron.
