Mike Molnar was an offensive lineman during the four-year career of Blugold Hall of Fame running back Lee Weigel. Playing tackle at 6-2, 275, Molnar helped Weigel accumulate 4,105 career yards, a school record that stood until Darrell Souhrada concluded his career in 2001 with 4,373 yards.

Molnar's standout season was as a junior when the Blugolds finished 8-3 and averaged nearly 27 points a game and 370 yards total offense per game, which in 1984 were among the top offensive totals in school history. While the Blugolds beat all three of their non-conference foes that year, they finished third in the Wisconsin State University Conference despite defeating conference co-champion UW-Whitewater. Molnar was named to the All-WSUC first team as well as the NAIA All-District 14 team and the NAIA All-America second team.

A native of South Bend, Indiana, where he played his prep ball for Mike Sacchini, Molnar received his bachelor's degree in psychology and criminal justice in 1986.

Since graduation, Molnar has pursued a successful career in law enforcement and in football. He began his law enforcement career in March, 1985 as a reserve deputy sheriff with the Eau Claire County Sheriff's Department while doing his internship in the criminal justice program. He was hired full time as a deputy sheriff in January, 1986 and stayed with the department until being hired in October 2003 by the Hawaii Police Department with which he is still employed.

Since his graduation, Molnar has had significant advanced law enforcement training in a number of areas through the Wisconsin State Patrol Academy, the U.S. Department of Transportation, the Michigan State Police Academy, the Illinois State Police Academy, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the University of Northwestern Illinois Traffic Institute.

He is certified as a DARE (Drug Abuse Resistance Education) officer for the elementary and junior high curriculum, as a Commercial Motor Vehicle Inspector, as a Hazardous Materials Compliance Inspector and as a Cargo Tank Inspector.

In addition to his patrol officer duties, he served as a DARE officer for nine years in Eau Claire County and created a DARE car which appeared in parades, public displays and community events. He received a Fan Appreciation award from the Minnesota Twins for eight consecutive years after organizing an annual trip to a Twins games for an average of 750 students and their families.

His love for football continued after graduation as he served as an assistant coach at Augusta High School (1994) and at UW-Eau Claire (1995-98) before helping to organize the Eau Claire Predators. He was a player, team captain and team vice president of the Predators in 2001, 2002 and 2003. His jersey was retired in 2004 and he was inducted into the Semi Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2004.

While at UW-Eau Claire and with the Predators, he combined his work with DARE and youths to connect with the athletes as role models.

In 2001, he received the American Police Officers Hall of Fame Life Saving Award for reviving a child found frozen with no signs of life. The child was brought back to normal health.

In the 50th state, he lives on the island of Hawaii and serves as a Field Training Officer and Field Training Coordinator. The state's largest island, which includes the city of Hilo, is served by one law enforcement body.

Molnar and his wife Roberta have five children: Mallory, 23; Mariah, 21; Meredith, 19; Murielle, 17; and Michael, 16. Mallory is a recent UWEC graduate who is now teaching in the Wausau area.

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