Background
Olander was born in 1899 at Rockford, Illinois. His father, Frank Olander, emigrated from Sweden in 1881 and became a saloon keeper in Rockford. His mother, Selma Olander, emigrated from Sweden in 1888.
assistant coach director Football player
Olander was born in 1899 at Rockford, Illinois. His father, Frank Olander, emigrated from Sweden in 1881 and became a saloon keeper in Rockford. His mother, Selma Olander, emigrated from Sweden in 1888.
Olander graduated from Rockford High School, where he played on the football, basketball and track teams and was captain of the football team for two years.
He had two older brothers, Carl (born May 1895) and Clarence (born April 1897). He next enrolled at the University of Illinois where he played at the tackle position for Robert Zuppke"s Fighting Illini football teams from 1918 to 1921. The University of Illinois yearbook noted: ""Milt" was the leading factor in the Illini line.
His steadiness characterized him as Zup"s most heady player.
This was his fourth season."
After graduating from Illinois, Olander served as the head football coach at the Western State Normal School (now known as Western Michigan University) in 1922 and 1923. In April 1924, Olander signed a contract to return to the University of Illinois as the freshman football coach.
He served as an assistant football coach at Illinois through the 1934 season. In 1940, Olander was appointed as the head of the Athletic Board of Control at the University of Illinois.
Olander lived in Sylvania, Ohio in his later years.
He worked as the director of industrial relations for Owens-Illinois Glass Company at Toledo, Ohio. Olander died in December 1961 at Toledo at the age of 62. In recognition of his efforts, the city"s park system is known as The Olander Park System.
The city"s largest park, Olander Park, and its lake, Lake Olander, are also named after him.
Olander was one of the original members of the parks commission in Sylvania, Ohio.