SIU Hires Olson

Southern Illinois University swimming and diving head coach Rick Walker announced Tuesday that Scott Olson has been named an assistant coach for the program. Olson worked as an assistant head coach at the College of Charleston since 2006.

"We are extremely excited about Scott joining our staff," said Walker. "He brings a wealth of knowledge from a couple of Division I programs, including the University of Tennessee and College of Charleston. We look to have a strong recruiting effort, which will be a continuation of the past couple of years that Tiffany (Gowens) left us."

A native of Watertown, S.D., Olson helped lead the Cougar men's team
to a Coastal Collegiate Swimming Association conference title each of
the last two years.

Prior to the CofC, Olson served as interim head coach of the
University of Tennessee women's swimming and diving team in 2005. He
was also a graduate assistant (2003-05) and volunteer coach (2002-03)
for the Lady Vols.

Before joining the college ranks, Olson was named the Northeast
Tennessee High School Swiming Coach of the Year at Science Hill High
School. He has tutored a number of swimmers at the Junior National,
Senior National and Olympic Trial levels.

Olson garnered All-American honors as a member of the University of
North Dakota men's swim team. He earned his bachelor's degree from UND
in 1996 and master's from Tennessee in 2005. Both degrees were in
recreation administration.