UND mourns passing of celebrated coach Jerry Olson

Olson, first native North Dakotan to be head football coach, led UND to four NCC championships in 1970s

Legendary University of North Dakota football coach Jerroll “Jerry” Olson passed away Saturday morning at the age of 89.

Olson became the first North Dakotan to be named the head football coach at UND in 1968. He spent 10 seasons with the program, leading North Dakota to a combined record of 54-39-4.

“My thoughts and prayers are with the Olson family during this difficult time,” said current UND football head coach Bubba Schweigert. “UND football has lost a man who has meant so much to our program and the lives he influenced in so many positive ways.

“I was fortunate to know Coach Olson and watch his teams play. His teams played a tough, hard-nosed brand of football and did an excellent job of representing North Dakota’s flagship university on the gridiron. All of us who were blessed to know him will miss him dearly.”

Olson was born in 1933 on a farm in Walsh County, N.D. He graduated from high school in Hoople before attending Valley City State University, where he lettered in football, basketball and baseball.

After graduation, Jerry taught and coached in Pelican Rapids, Minn., for five years before joining UND as an assistant coach.

During Olson’s time as head coach at UND, the football team won NCC Championships in 1971, 1972, 1974 and 1975. At the end of the 1971 season, Coach Olson was named the District Coach of the Year and earned the title of the North Dakota College Coach of the Year in 1972. For his contributions to the program, Olson was inducted into the UND Athletic Hall of Fame in the fall of 1981.

Olson’s impact on UND football is still being felt today, as he was one of the main creators of Potato Bowl USA. The Potato Bowl USA was created in 1965 by then UND Athletic Director Leonard R. “Len” Marti, head coach Marv “Whitey” Helling, assistant coach Jerry Olson and sports information director Lee Bohnet. The first Potato Bowl USA was played in 1966, when North Dakota shut out Idaho State 41-0 in a battle for pride among potato-growing regions. Potato Bowl USA still exists today, and North Dakota is 44-12 in Potato Bowl USA history, most recently defeating then-ranked No. 24 Northern Iowa, 29-27, inside the Alerus Center on Sept. 10, 2022.

There is already a scholarship that exists in his honor, “The Jerry Olson Football Scholarship Endowment,” which was established for Jerry and wife Nadine’s impact on the football program. The endowment supports scholarships for UND football student-athletes and allows their legacy to live on.

Memorial services will be Monday, March 13, 2023, at 2 p.m. in First Lutheran Church of Hoople. Visitation with family and friends will be one hour before services, and the inurnment will be at the Hoople City Cemetery. Memorials are preferred to the Hoople City Cemetery or the UND Jerry Olson Football Scholarship Endowment at the UND Alumni Association & Foundation.

An online guestbook is available at www.tollefsonfuneralhome.com.