Kelly Olson

Kelly Olson

Northland Community & Technical College hired long-time high school coach Kelly Olson as its new head volleyball coach in February 2024. In his first season with Northland volleyball, Olson lead the Pioneers to an 11-12 record and a semifinal appearance at the NJCAA Region XIII tournament. Olson spent the previous 11 years (2012-23) as the head volleyball coach at Brandon-Evansville High School. Before taking over the high school coaching duties at Brandon-Evansville, Olson ran the school's Junior Olympic club team for three seasons, during which it expanded from one 18s team to 12s, 14s and 17s teams. He also coached at Western Tech in La Crosse, Wis., for one season, with several years of club volleyball. 

Olson was a basketball and baseball player in his hometown of Winona, MN. He attended Winona High School and later Winona State University, and it was at WSU that he got his start in volleyball as a member of WSU's club team. His coach and mentor was Felino Pascual, a mathematics professor at WSU. 

Olson and his wife, Erika, have three children, Arthur, Signe, and Leuis. All three attend school in Thief River Falls.