WINONA, Minn. — When Don Olson first arrived on the Saint Mary's campus, Brother Peter Clifford was president, the school was still a “College,” the men's teams were “Redmen,” and the hockey team played on an outdoor rink behind a dorm.
Over the next 32 years, the school has had four presidents, two name changes — Saint Mary's College to Saint Mary's University, and Redmen to Cardinals — and that dilapidated outdoor rink gave way to one of the top on-campus indoor rinks in the West Region.
Not to mention that Saint Mary's men's hockey has seen its fair share of stellar athletes leave their marks on the program.
Yet, while freshmen came and seniors went, one thing was a constant: Don Olson was in his familiar spot behind the bench as the Cardinals' head coach.
Until Wednesday, that is.
Citing a “chance-of-a-lifetime opportunity,” Olson stepped down as the Cardinals' head men's hockey coach, and is leaving Saint Mary's after 32 years of service to become athletic director at the College of St. Scholastica.
“This was the toughest decision I have ever had to make,” admitted Olson, who also served as athletic director, intramural director, Cardinal 'M' Club director, men's golf and cross country coach, and summer hockey camp director, during his 32 years at Saint Mary's.
“I will always be grateful to Saint Mary's for the opportunities afforded me,” Olson said. “Saint Mary's University and the Winona community have been home to my family and me for the past 32 years. It's with a heavy heart that my wife (Linda) and I pull up roots and begin a new journey.
“The College of St. Scholastica is in a very exciting period of growth and development in general, and specifically within their athletic department,” Olson said. “The opportunity to have an administrative role at the college during this era of St. Scholastica athletics is very energizing.”
While the thought of heading the Saints' athletic department energizes Olson, not being behind the bench when the 2008-09 Cardinal men's hockey season begins is something he is going to miss dearly.
“It will be difficult to leave Saint Mary's hockey,” said Olson, who was inducted into the Saint Mary's Sports Hall of Fame in 1996. “We have terrific assistant coaches and a great group of players returning. I will definitely miss the daily interaction with our coaches and players.”
Olson compiled a 377-399-41 record while guiding the Cardinals to 13 Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference playoffs, two NCAA post-season appearances and one NAIA Tournament. Saint Mary's — which has had 14 winning seasons under Olson — won the MIAC regular-season championship in 1987-88 and conference playoff championships in 1989 and 1995.
In recognition of the team's success, Olson was named MIAC Coach of the Year on three occasions, NAIA Coach of the Year, and the American Hockey Coaches Association West Region Coach of the Year three times. His 377 wins rank him 39th all-time among all collegiate hockey coaches.
“Coach Olson has been the face of Cardinal hockey for more than three decades and has made tremendous contributions to not only the men's hockey program, but to the entire athletic department,” said SMU athletic director
Nikki Fennern, who noted that a national search will begin immediately to find Olson's successor. “His time here in a variety of important roles has made a lasting impact on Cardinal athletics.
“I wish him nothing but the best as he pursues an exciting adventure in a position that is a perfect fit for him,” Fennern added.
The winningest hockey coach in SMU history, Olson's first victory came during the 1976-77 season. He collected win No. 100 in the 1986-87 season, eclipsed the 200-win plateau in 1993, and collected win No. 300 with a 7-5 triumph over UW-Stout on Nov. 18, 2000.
While at Saint Mary's, Olson coached 76 players who earned All-MIAC recognition, 12 All-Americans, and five MIAC Players of the Year. With a strong emphasis on academics, the Cardinals had numerous student-athletes recognized by the MIAC and the NCAA for outstanding academic performance.
“Saint Mary's loss is St. Scholastica's gain,” said
Donny Nadeau, who played for Olson as a collegian from 1981-85 and worked with him for the past 14 years, both as SMU's sports information director and assistant men's hockey coach.
“Coach Olson has been a mentor and a friend for the past 25 years. His dedication to Saint Mary's and the men's hockey program is unmatched. He may not be an alum, but you would be hard-pressed to find anyone who loved Saint Mary's more.”
Olson has been active in the broader hockey community over the years. He served as chairman of the NCAA Division III Hockey Championships committee from 1990-1997. He served the American Hockey Coaches Association as a member of its board of directors from 1995-1998. In 1999, he chaired the National Championship Committee for the American Women's College Hockey Alliance. In addition, Olson directed several region and national camps and served as a presenter at numerous coaching clinics for USA Hockey.
On a local level, Olson served on the Winona Area Youth Hockey Association Board of Directors and spent countless hours volunteering with Winona's youth hockey players and coaches.
“Winona has been a wonderful community to raise our children and grow as a family, Olson said. “Linda and I are very thankful for our many friendships and all the memorable experiences we have had over the past 32 years. It has been a fantastic journey because of all the exceptional people we have met along the way.”
