BSU announces Olson as assistant women’s basketball coach

Requires Adobe Flash BEMIDJI, Minn. – Bemidji State University head women’s basketball coach Mike Curfman announced the hiring of assistant coach Ella Olson Monday. Olson is familiar with the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference after playing and coaching at University of Minnesota Duluth. At BSU, she will be responsible for recruiting, scouting, defense and will work primarily with the post players.

“It was tough leaving UMD after seven years of playing and coaching, but I am excited about the opportunity to coach here at Bemidji State,” Olson said. “The competiveness of the NSIC is some of the best in the nation. The BSU women’s program has the potential to compete at that level and I’m excited to be a part of the continued growth. Knowing coach Curfman’s experience in the league and seeing him on the recruiting trail, I’m excited to work and learn from him as a young coach.”

Olson played four seasons of Bulldog women’s basketball before moving into the role of graduate assistant coach, a position she held for the past two seasons.

As a player, Olson helped UMD to an NCAA Division II Tournament appearance as a junior and checked into 26 of 27 games during her senior campaign. She qualified for the North Central Conference (NCC) Commissioner’s Academic Honor Roll and was a three-time All-NSIC Academic Team member.

In her two seasons as a graduate assistant, the Bulldogs went 32-23 overall and 26-18 in NSIC play and made an appearance in the 2011-12 NCAA Tournament. Her role at UMD included working with all facets of the program.

Olson is in the process of completing a masters degree in education at Minnesota Duluth. She earned her undergraduate degree in elementary education (2011 graduate).

A native of Roberts, Wis., Olson is a 2006 graduate of St. Croix Central High School.

Olson replaces Abby Oakland, who after a season with the Beavers, accepted a job at Southwest Minnesota State University.

The Beavers finished the 2012-13 season with a 11-16 overall mark and a 7-15 conference record to rank seventh in the NSIC North. BSU returns 10 players from a season ago, which includes three starters in seniors Jessie Althoff (F, Becker, Minn.), Morgan Lee (G, Hayward, Wis.) and Kate Warmack (C, East Grand Forks, N.D.). Curfman enters his ninth season as head coach of the Beavers and currently sits third all-time in wins at Bemidji State with 82 victories.

For more information on the Bemidji State women’s basketball program, follow the Beavers on Twitter (@BemidjiStateWBB or @BSUBeavers), like them on Facebook (facebook.com/BemidjiStateWomen’sBasketball or facebook.com/BSUBeavers) or sign up for the TXTUpdates from BSUBeavers.com text-messaging system through the "Mulitmedia" pull down menu on the main page of BSUBeavers.com.

Nestled in Northern Minnesota’s wooded region and located on the shore of Lake Bemidji, Bemidji State University sponsors 15 varsity athletic programs with NCAA Division I men’s and women’s hockey membership in the Western Collegiate Hockey Association, while its 13 NCAA Division II programs hold membership in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC).