Bill Olsen (1959-62) (1969-80) (1980-87) (1995) - Athletics Hall of Fame

Bill Olsen (1959-62) (1969-80) (1980-87)

Induction:
1995
Class:
1962

UofL’s Director of Athletics from 1980-97, Bill Olsen has served UofL as an athlete, coach and administrator. He was a four-year letterman at shortstop on the Cards’ baseball team and served as a student assistant basketball coach (1960-62) after lettering one year on the UofL basketball team. After a successful high school coaching career, Olsen joined John Duomo’s basketball staff in 1969 and continued as a Cardinal assistant until his appointment as athletic director in 1980. He oversaw dramatic development of an athletic budget that has increased from less than $2 million to over $15 million while keeping the athletic and academic achievements of UofL’s student-athletes in the forefront.