NSU MEN'S BASKETBALL COACH BOB OLSON NOTCHES 300TH CAREER WIN
Feb. 3, 1999
ABERDEEN, S.D. – Northern State University head men's basketball coach Bob Olson recorded his 300th career coaching victory in the Barnett Center on NSU's campus Wednesday night in a 76-62 win over Moorhead State University. The Aberdeen, S.D., native's career record, all on the sidelines at Northern, stands at 300-127.
Olson's teams have appeared in eight national tournaments (five in the NAIA, three in NCAA Division II), played in two national championship games, won five Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference titles (including four consecutive titles entering this season) and have had one NCAA II Elite Eight Appearance since joining the NCAA II in 1995. Olson was named North Central Region Coach of the Year last season for taking the Wolves to the Elite Eight in just the program's third year under NCAA II. Olson is also a five-time Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference Coach of the Year. He was named the 1993-94 NAIA II Coach of the Year and has garnered truckloads of coach of the year honors from NAIA subdivisions, local media and alumni groups.
Olson has coached 24 all-conference players, five NAIA All-Americans, one NCAA II First-Team All-American and eight Academic All-Americans. His career win mark at NSU ranks second only to legendary NSU coach Coach Wachs, who recorded 529 career wins from 1955 to 1985. Olson played under Wachs in the mid 1970's before succeeding him as NSU's 15th basketball coach for the 1985-86 season.
Bob and his wife, Cheri, are the parents of one girl, Stephie.
Here is brief rundown history of Olson's road at Northern State:
Olson attended Northern State in the mid-1970's and played collegiate basketball for legendary coach Bob Wachs. He earned a bachelor's degree from Northern in 1977 and moved to Mayville State University where he served as an assistant coach to Pierre duCharme, Olson's basketball coach at Aberdeen Central High School.
A job in the NSU Admissions Office brought Olson back to Northern, the men's basketball program, and Coach Wachs. Olson assisted Wachs with the Wolves' basketball squad while earning a master's degree from Northern in 1980. Olson spent two years at Aberdeen Roncalli High School and coached the boys' basketball team to a 27-13 record and a conference title. He moved across town to the NSU campus in 1983 and coached the women's basketball team for two seasons. He established a 44-10 record, won a district title, and was named NAIA District 12 Coach of the Year.
When Coach Bob Wachs retired after more than 30 years and more than 500 wins, Olson was selected as NSU's 15th men's basketball coach.
After three transition seasons, Northern State basketball returned to the forefront of District 12. The 1988-89 squad played in the district championship game and the following season, Northern again returned to the district finals but this time the Wolves won the championship crown and advanced to the NAIA National Basketball Tournament in Kansas City, Mo. Olson was named the District 12 Coach of the Year.
In 1990-91, NSU repeated as district champions and returned to the national tournament. Advancing to the round of sixteen, NSU lost by one point to Taylor University. Olson was named Coach of the Year by the district, the conference and NAIA Area III.
In 1991-92, the Wolves' season ended with a semi-final loss to Dakota State.
In 1992-93, the Wolfpack opened the season as the number one ranked team in the nation and never relinquished the top spot. NSU reeled off 18 consecutive wins to begin the season and claimed the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference title. Olson was named the conference Coach of the Year. The Wolves claimed the district crown with victories over Sioux Falls College and Black Hills State and Olson was named the district coach of the year for the third time.
The Wolves won their first three games in the national tourney in Nampa, Idaho. In a hard-fought championship game against Willamette College, NSU lost for just the second time all season. Olson was named the NAIA II Coach of the Year by the Basketball Times.
National success continued in 1993-94 as NSU reached the national tournament for the fourth time in five seasons. The Wolves, who finished second in the conference, defeated St. Ambrose, Huron University and Lewis and Clark before falling in the national championship game for the second time. The Wolves lost 98-95 in overtime to Eureka College. Olson was named the Midwest Independent Region Coach of the Year.
In 1994-95, the Wolfpack started as the number one ranked team in NAIA II and entered the playoffs still in the top spot. After winning the NSIC championship, Northern posted home victories over St. Scholastica, Concordia College-St. Paul, and Dordt College to earn the Midwest Region title once again. Olson also repeated as regional Coach of the Year. The region crown entitled Olson and his Northern team to their fifth trip to nationals in six seasons. At nationals, NSU defeated Howard Payne of Texas, Alice Lloyd of Kentucky and Hastings College of Nebraska before losing in the semifinals to the host team, Northwest Nazarene of Idaho by a score of 67-62.
That marked the last appearance for Northern State at the NAIA national tournament. Beginning with the 1995-96 season, NSU began an affiliation with NCAA II and success has continued. In 1996, Northern qualified for the Division II playoffs and defeated Oakland University in the first round before being eliminated by Northern Kentucky, the team that went to finish second in the nation. In 1997, NSU moved to a new region, the North Central, and again qualified for the playoffs. The Wolves lost in an overtime game to North Dakota State. Last season, NSU was nationally ranked all year and upset South Dakota State in Brookings, S.D., to claim the North Central Region championship and earn a trip to the NCAA II Elite Eight in Louisville, Ky. Virginia Union edged the Wolves in the first round 67-63. Olson was named North Central Region Coach of the Year by the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC).