Jerry Olson

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.

Jerry Olson

Biographical details
Born	(1933-11-06)November 6, 1933 Walsh County, North Dakota, U.S.
Died	February 25, 2023(2023-02-25) (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

College

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