Jerroll Dean Olson (November 6, 1933 – February 25, 2023) was an American football coach. He served as the head football coach at the University of North Dakota from 1968 to 1977, compiling a record of 54–39–4.
| Biographical details | |
|---|---|
| Born | November 6, 1933 Walsh County, North Dakota, U.S. |
| Died | February 25, 2023 (aged 89) Grafton, North Dakota, U.S. |
| Playing career | |
| Football | |
| 1953 | Trinidad |
| 1954 | Valley City State |
| Basketball | |
| c. 1954 | Valley City State |
| Baseball | |
| c. 1954 | Valley City State |
| Position(s) | Tackle (football) |
| Coaching career (HC unless noted) | |
| Football | |
| c. 1955 | Pelican Rapids HS (MN) |
| c. 1960 | North Dakota (freshman) |
| 1961 | Pelican Rapids HS (MN) |
| 1962–1967 | North Dakota (assistant) |
| 1968–1977 | North Dakota |
| Head coaching record | |
| Overall | 54–39–4 (college) |
| Bowls | 1–0 |
| Tournaments | 0–1 (NCAA D-II playoffs) |
| Accomplishments and honors | |
| Championships | |
| 4 NCC (1971–1972, 1974–1975) | |
Olson was born in 1933, on farm in Walsh County, North Dakota. He graduated from high school in Hoople, North Dakota. In 1953, Olson played football as a tackle at Trinidad State Junior College—now known as Trinidad State College—in Trinidad, Colorado under head coach Dale Hardy, earning all-conference honors and leading the Trojans to an undefeated season and an Empire Junior College Conference (EJCC) title.[1] Olson then attended Valley City State University, where he lettered in football, basketball, and baseball.[2]
Olson died in Grafton, North Dakota on February 25, 2023, at the age of 89.[3][4]
Head coaching record
editCollege
edit| Year | Team | Overall | Conference | Standing | Bowl/playoffs | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| North Dakota Fighting Sioux (North Central Conference) (1968–1977) | |||||||||
| 1968 | North Dakota | 3–5 | 3–3 | T–3rd | |||||
| 1969 | North Dakota | 4–5 | 3–3 | T–3rd | |||||
| 1970 | North Dakota | 5–3–1 | 4–1–1 | 2nd | |||||
| 1971 | North Dakota | 6–3–1 | 5–1 | 1st | |||||
| 1972 | North Dakota | 10–1 | 6–1 | T–1st | W Camellia | ||||
| 1973 | North Dakota | 6–4 | 4–3 | T–3rd | |||||
| 1974 | North Dakota | 6–4 | 5–2 | T–1st | |||||
| 1975 | North Dakota | 9–1 | 7–0 | 1st | L NCAA Division II First Round | ||||
| 1976 | North Dakota | 1–7–1 | 1–4–1 | 5th | |||||
| 1977 | North Dakota | 4–6–1 | 2–4–1 | T–6th | |||||
| North Dakota: | 54–39–4 | 39–23–3 | |||||||
| Total: | 54–39–4 | ||||||||
| National championship Conference title Conference division title or championship game berth | |||||||||
References
edit- ^ "Sturgis Coach, Tackle Aid Trinidad To Unbeaten Year". Rapid City Journal. Rapid City, South Dakota. December 20, 1953. p. 8. Retrieved February 6, 2025 – via Newspapers.com
.
- ^ "Jerry Olson To Succeed Marv Helling". Argus Leader. Sioux Falls, South Dakota. Associated Press. April 8, 1968. p. 12. Retrieved December 29, 2018 – via Newspapers.com .
- ^ "UND Mourns the Passing of Celebrated Football Coach Jerry Olson". North Dakota Fighting Hawks. February 25, 2023. Retrieved January 3, 2025.
- ^ "Remembering Jerroll Dean 'Jerry' Olson". University of North Dakota. February 28, 2023. Retrieved January 3, 2025.
