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Cliff Olson

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Cliff Olson
Biographical details
Born(1905-02-07)February 7, 1905
Benson, Minnesota, U.S.
DiedDecember 6, 1990(1990-12-06) (aged 85)
Tacoma, Washington, U.S.
Playing career
Football
1923–1926Luther
Basketball
1926–1927Luther
Track and field
1926–1927Luther
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
Football
1927Marshall HS (MN)
1928Spokane College
1929–1941Pacific Lutheran
1946Pacific Lutheran
Basketball
1927–1928Marshall HS (MN)
1928–1929Spokane College
1929–1941Pacific Lutheran
Accomplishments and honors
Championships
Football
3 WINCO (1939–1941)

Clifford Orin Olson (February 7, 1905 – December 6, 1990) was an American college football, college basketball, and college baseball coach. He served as the head football coach at Pacific Lutheran University from 1926 to 1941 and again in 1946, compiling a record of 64–33–6. His 64 wins were the most of any coach in the history of the Pacific Lutheran Lutes football program until he was surpassed by Frosty Westering. Olson also coached track, golf, and tennis as Pacific Lutheran. He was the school's athletic director and taught Latin, history, and physical education.[1]

Olson was born on February 7, 1905, in Benson, Minnesota. He graduated in 1927 with a bachelor's degree from Luther College in Decorah, Iowa. At Luther he played on the football team from 1923 to 1926, the basketball team in 1926–27, and the track and field team from 1926 to 1927.[2]

Olson began his coaching career in the fall of 1927 as football coach at Marshall High School in Marshall, Minnesota.[3] He also coached basketball at Marshall High School before moving in 1928 to Spokane College in Spokane, Washington, where he coached football, basketball, and baseball.[4]

Olson died on December 6, 1990.[1]

Head coaching record

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College football

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Year Team Overall Conference Standing Bowl/playoffs
Spokane College Chieftains (Columbia Valley Conference) (1928)
1928 Spokane College
Spokane College:
Pacific Lutheran Gladiators (Independent) (1929–1937)
1929 Pacific Lutheran 3–3
1930 Pacific Lutheran 5–2
1931 Pacific Lutheran 6–3
1932 Pacific Lutheran 3–4
1933 Pacific Lutheran 1–5
1934 Pacific Lutheran 5–2
1935 Pacific Lutheran 5–1–1
1936 Pacific Lutheran 5–0–2
1937 Pacific Lutheran 3–3–1
Pacific Lutheran Gladiators / Lutes (Washington Intercollegiate Conference) (1938–1941)
1938 Pacific Lutheran 2–5–1 0–3 4th
1939 Pacific Lutheran 7–1 2–1 T–1st
1940 Pacific Lutheran 8–0 4–0 1st
1941 Pacific Lutheran 8–1 4–0 1st
Pacific Lutheran Lutes (Washington Intercollegiate Conference) (1946)
1946 Pacific Lutheran 3–3–1 2–2–1 3rd
Pacific Lutheran: 64–33–6 12–6–1
Total:
      National championship         Conference title         Conference division title or championship game berth

[5]

References

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  1. ^ a b "Ex-PLU athletic director, coach Clifford Colson dies". The Morning News Tribune. Tacoma, Washington. December 7, 1990. p. B2. Retrieved July 18, 2022 – via Newspapers.com Open access icon.
  2. ^ Who's Who in American Sports. Washington, D.C.: National Biographical Society, Inc. 1928. p. 613. Retrieved January 31, 2025 – via Internet Archive.
  3. ^ "Luther Grid Star Coaches at Marshall". The Minneapolis Journal. Minneapolis, Minnesota. September 14, 1927. p. 17. Retrieved January 31, 2025 – via Newspapers.com Open access icon.
  4. ^ "Lutheran Coach Has Experience". The Tacoma Sunday Ledger. Tacoma, Washington. December 1, 1929. p. B3. Retrieved January 31, 2025 – via Newspapers.com Open access icon.
  5. ^ "NCAA Statistics; Coach; Cliff Olson; Football". National Collegiate Athletic Association. Retrieved January 31, 2025.
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