Olson Will Lead Both Track Teams
9/11/2000 12:00:00 AM | Track & Field
Sept. 11, 2000
NACOGDOCHES, Texas -- Stephen F. Austin athletic director Steve McCarty announced today that Phil Olson has been named head coach of both the men's and women's track programs at the university.
Olson has been the head coach of the men's track team since January of this year.
"I am extremely pleased to announce that Phil Olson will now lead both the men's and women's teams as head coach of both programs. For the first time, both the men's and women's track and field programs will approach training and preparation for competition with the same philosophy. Coach Olson has a proven record of being able to coach both men and women, having done so at the University of Virginia. I am confident that he will do an outstanding job as he leads both teams toward conference championships in the years to come," said McCarty.
The Fort Worth native graduated from SFA with a bachelor's degree in kinesiology in 1986, and earned a master's degree from the University of Virginia in 1990. Olson coached at Clemson and at the University of Virginia prior to returning to the SFA campus. During his tenure at Virginia, he coached 14 ACC champions and 21 All-ACC field event performers. In 1999, he also coached an All-American javelin thrower for the Cavaliers.
At Clemson, Olson was a member of two ACC track championships for the Lady Tigers.
Olson currently has two full-time assistants on his staff. Alex Gibby currently serves as the head cross country coach for both the men and women and also assists with the distance runners on the track team. Ron McCown, a former SFA decathlete, also assists, coaching athletes in the high, long and triple jump, as well as multi-event athletes. One additional assistant will be named later to coach sprinters and athletes competing in the hurdles.
