Post by David on Sept 11, 2015 15:24:24 GMT -8
(image credit: Jonathan Martinez/Spokane Shock)
9.11.15 -
The Portland Thunder have announced that Andy Olson has been named the team's new head coach on Friday afternoon.
Thunder owner Terry Emmert stated of the hiring, “We are delighted to have Andy take over the position. He is a coach that has shown a lot of promise over his young career, and has a style that we are excited to see in action for the Portland Thunder. We feel Andy’s knowledge of this division, and his intensity on the sidelines, will give our fans plenty to cheer about in the coming years.”
Olson will become the third head coach in three seasons for the Thunder. He replaces Mike Hohensee who "agreed to part ways" with the team back on August 24th after one season.
At only 32 years of age, Olson is currently the youngest head coach in the AFL. A native of Chehalis, Washington, Olson played wide receiver at Western Washington University, finishing his four-year career as the Vikings' all-time leader with 31 touchdown receptions and 183 total receptions and finished second in school history with 2,990 receiving yards. He set the school and Great Northwest Athletic Conference record for touchdown catches in 11 straight games from 2004-2005 and earned numerous GNAC honors, including three first-team honors.
Olson went undrafted in the 2006 NFL Draft. His first taste of Arena Football came in 2007 as a member of the Georgia Force, spending six weeks on the team's practice squad before he was eventually released. In January 2008, he signed with the Spokane Shock of the af2. In his two seasons as a member of the Shock, he recorded 230 receptions, 2,201 receiving yards and 36 total touchdowns. He was a member of two ArenaCup squads, including 2009 championship team.
When the Shock elevated to the AFL in 2010, head coach Rob Keefe tried to bring him back when the wide receiving core was getting plagued by injury and with the intention of transitioning into coaching. He did not play that season as the Shock went on to win the ArenaBowl.
In 2011, Olson was hired to replace offensive coordinator Fred Biletnikoff Jr. after 2 games. Under Olson, the Shock averaged 58.8 points per game (5th out of 18 teams at the time) despite the team seeing seven quarterbacks line up behind center. After Keefe was fired after the season, Olson was promoted to head coach for the 2012 season.
Olson went on to coach the Shock to a regular season record of 42-30 in four seasons, but only 1-3 in the playoffs. Under Olson, the Shock made the playoffs three out of four seasons. In his first season as head coach, the Shock had an up and down season, but still managed to put up record breaking performances, such as Kyle Rowley's record breaking 12 passing touchdowns against the San Jose SabeCats and kicker Kenny Spencer's single-season AFL record 146 converted PATs. His best season was in 2013, when the Shock had the second best record in the AFL at 14-4. The 2013 squad had one of the most dangerous offenses in the league; the team averaged 66.6 points per game and scored a total of 1,198 points, both third most in the AFL at the time. The Shock won by 10 points or more in all 14 victories, setting the AFL single-season record for most victories by 10 or more points in a single season.
Six days before Hohensee left Portland,Olson stated that he and the Shock agreed to part ways four days after the Shock lost 72-41 in the playoffs to the Arizona Rattlers. Before the Shock made the official move to the Indoor Football League, Olson made it clear that he wanted to remain coaching in the AFL.
Upon his hiring by the Thunder, Olson stated, “I am extremely excited for the opportunity to work for this solid organization. The ownership is clearly committed, and we will work together to run the organization the right way, instilling a focus on work ethic and stability while winning.”
Olson will likely call upon players he coached on the 2015 Shock roster to join him in the Rose City. Veteran players such as James Ruffin, Derrick Summers, Anthony Amos, Mike Washington, Arvell Nelson and Carson Coffman could be big acquisitions to aid fellow stars Bryce Peila, Duane Brooks, Jamar Howard, John Martinez and Varmah Sonie and Darron Thomas. With the hiring of Olson, the Thunder have the potential to improve upon their 10-28 overall record and make a statement that they're a force to be reckoned with in the AFL.
Here's a look at his year-by-year coaching record in his four seasons as Shock head coach:
2012 - 10-8, (0-0 playoffs) - 4th in West Division, T-5th National Conference
2013 - 14-4, (1-1 playoffs) - 2nd in West Division, 2nd National Conference
2014 - 11-7, (0-1 playoffs) - 2nd in Pacific Division, 3rd National Conference
2015 - 7-11, (0-1 playoffs) - 2nd in Pacific Division, 3rd National Conference
Olson replaces Hohensee, who was 5-13 in his lone season with the Thunder and 0-1 in the playoffs with a 28-55 loss to eventual ArenaBowl Champion San Jose. Hohensee was hired after the Thunder fired head coach Matt Sauk, who also went 5-13 in the team's inaugural season and lost in the playoffs 48-52 to eventual ArenaBowl Champion Arizona.
If you would like to read the Thunder's official press release, click here.
- DKH
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Graphic courtesy of David.
