Education
University of Wisconsin–Madison.
basketball coach basketball player
University of Wisconsin–Madison.
The Rice Lake, Wisconsin native was the head coach of the Ohio State University from 1922 to 1946. That year he became the first head coach of the Bachelor of Applied Arts"s Chicago Stags, where he coached almost three seasons before being replaced by Philip Brownstein. Olsen also coached at Northwestern University (1950–1952).
While playing at University of Wisconsin–Madison (1914-1917), Olsen was named two-time All-Big Ten.
After graduating from Wisconsin, he began his coaching career at Bradley University and Ripon College. In 1922 Olsen followed George Trautman as head coach of the Ohio State University.
In 24 years he guided the Buckeyes to a 259–197 record, as well as five Big Ten championships (1925, 1933, 1939, 1944, 1946). In 1939, Olsen spearheaded efforts to create the National Collegiate Athletic Association postseason national playoffs, now known as the National Collegiate Athletic Association Tournament.
Olsen also helped initiate the 10-second rule.
In 1959 he was inducted to the Basketball Hall of Fame as a contributor.