Canes find their offensive coordinator

**imported_TheGMan** · February 16th, 2006, 02:29 PM

2001...Arizona...Offense ranked #20 in NFL
2002...Arizona...Offense ranked #29 in NFL
2004...San Francisco...Offense ranked #30 in NFL
2005...Minnesota...Offense ranked #19 in NFL...Passing ranked #20 in NFL

The only two "good" years he had were due to having a Hall of Fame QB in Warren Moon and Brad Johnson having his "career" year in '99. He had Johnson in Minnesota last year...you see what that got him...a trip out of town with the rest of the coaching staff. BTW, he was replaced in Minnesota by VT's QB coach, Kevin Rogers.

**imported_mega** · February 16th, 2006, 02:47 PM

ok, so who has won in Arizona Einstein? You tell me so I can inform the lengendary Francis Beamer Lombardi to take that prestigious job. In San Francisco, same thing yet he was just a quarterback coach. He got Tim Rattay to throw for over 400 yards in a game. I guess he must suck because Rattay hasnt done that since. I mean John Gruden must be the worst football coach in the world since Tim Rattay cant beat out Chris Simms and Brian Griese. Youre a tool. In Minnesota everyone felt that Johnson was past his prime, the Bucs ditched the dude. All of a sudden he has a terrific year and the Vikings nearly make the playoffs. Their best players were Nate Burelson and Michael Bennett so that says even more about Brad Johnsons resurection. Funny how you throw out the negative without mentioning the positive. Olson helped Kitna develop in Seattle, helped Plummer be decent in Arizona in an impossible situation, and Brad Johnson apparently only has good seasons when Olson is around. Moon was on the downside of his career in Seattle yet he still made the pro bowl after Minnesota sent him packing. You really dont have a clue do you dude, Miami kicked the crap out of VT with Dan Werner as offensive coordinator, Dan Werner. Not sure about Kevin Rogers hire, but Minnesota knew that Olson was leaving to take an OC job.

Funny how you dog out Al Groh too, I bet he could stomp a few mudholes in VT too with south florida talent.

Deluxe Trophy Case

**imported_mega** · February 16th, 2006, 07:09 PM

Adding to Olson's credentials, he was Jeff Tedford's quarterback coach at Fresno State.

Excerpt:
[ QUOTE ]
Olson generally ran 2 back pro sets and I formations along with the occasional 3 WR, 1TE, 1 RB formation that Dennis Erickson employed. believe his biggest attribute was his development of QBs. He took Kevin Sweeney and Mark Barsotti, two kids with extremely limited skill sets and turned them into world beaters. After Tedford graduated, Tedford became the QB coach when Olsen was OC. Also note, Fresno State head coach Jim Sweeney (who is in the top 10 in all time wins) was considered a top notch offensive mind in those days. Sweeney mentored Dennis Erickson at Idaho where Sweeney was the head coach and Erickson was OC. So, between Sweeney, Olsen and Tedford, there was some serious intellectual talent on the offensive side of the ball at Fresno State long before Pat Hill ever surfaced at Fresno State.

[/ QUOTE ]

This is Olson's second stint as OC at Miami, he was OC in 93 and 94. He was stuck with Costa and Ryan Collins but was able to get Miami to one national championship game before leaving to go to Seattle with Erickson. Olson replaced Bratkowski who is the star offensive coordinator of the Bengals. The biggest reason for Olsons job changes throughout the last 10 years is because Erickson has changed jobs 3 times and Tice changed jobs while Olson was on staff. By no means is this guy a bad coach. Everywhere he has went, there has been some degree of success.

**imported_mega** · February 17th, 2006, 11:48 AM

CaneSport News Wire

Yesterday CaneSport reported it was expected Rich Olson would be officially named UM's new offensive coordinator within 24 hours.

And that proved to be the case. Today Olson, one of the most respected offensive coaches in football, has been named offensive coordinator at the University of Miami, where he worked for three years with great success in the early 1990s.

A 29-veteran coach in college football and the NFL, Olson has coached some of the top names in college and pro football. He was UM's wide receivers coach in 1992 and was an integral part of Gino Torretta's success when the quarterback won the Heisman Trophy that year. In addition, Olson has coached quarterbacks such as Daunte Culpepper, Jake Plummer and Warren Moon in the NFL, in addition to star players like Trent Dilfer, Eric Dickerson and Craig James in college football.

"I think the University of Miami, our coaching staff and our players are fortunate to have Rich Olson as part of the football program," said Coker. "He's going to be a great addition because of his knowledge of football, but more important because of his ability to unite our offensive staff and get our offense going into the direction we want it to go."

Olson said, "I am so excited to be coming back to the University of Miami. I enjoyed my time and here and now I get an opportunity to come back and compete for a national championship. That's what college football is about. To win consistently, you have to be able to run the football. We have a really good quarterback, a tight end and receivers. But we have to be able to run the ball. We can't throw it every down. If defenses have to defend the run and the pass, then we have a better chance to win."

Dennis Erickson, now the head coach at Idaho, said "Rich coached for me on and off for 10 years. He's been my offensive coordinator; he's done everything for me. Rich is one of the great minds, offensively, in football -- college and professional. He will be a great plus at the University of Miami."

Torretta added, "I think Rich Olson is going to be a wonderful addition, and I really believe that the players will like him and respond to him. I expect us to have a more aggressive aerial attack than before."

And Ken Dorsey, another former UM quarterback who was coached by Olson a year ago with the San Francisco 49ers, commented, "Coach Olson will be a great fit. His offensive philosophy will allow him to do a lot of things with the speed and athleticism that UM has on the team and always recruits. It's great that he is a former coach with the Hurricanes. He knows and understands the level of success the program has had and has been a part in that success."

Olson spent the last 11 years in the NFL, after following Erickson from UM to the Seattle Seahawks in 1994. He has also coached with the Washington Redskins, Arizona Cardinals, San Francisco 49ers and Minnesota Vikings.

In his 18 years in college football, Olson has worked for top coaches such as Erickson, Lou Holtz and John Robinson. At UM, he was the wide receivers coach in 1992, the quarterbacks coach in 1993, and then the offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach in 1994.

Prior to that he spent seven years under Jim Sweeney at Fresno State, where he tutored first-round draft choice Trent Dilfer, as well as Kevin Sweeney, who broke Doug Flutie's NCAA record for passing yardage. Olson coached on Holtz's staff at Arkansas for three years, at Southern Methodist under Ron Meyer, and at Southern California under Robinson. He began his coaching career at Gahr High School in Cerritos, Calif. in 1971.

A native of Montebello, Calif., Olson was a quarterback at Washington State. He and his wife, Cindy, have a daughter, Kasey.

RICH OLSON'S COACHING CAREER
2005 Minnesota Vikings (quarterbacks)
2004 San Francisco 49ers (quarterbacks)
2001-2002 Arizona Cardinals (offensive coordinator)
1999-2000 Washington Redskins (quarterbacks)
1995-98 Seattle Seahawks (quarterbacks)
1991-94 University of Miami (receivers, offensive coordinator)
1984-90 Fresno State (offensive coordinator)
1981-83 Arkansas (secondary)
1978-80 Southern Methodist (offensive line, running backs)
1977 Southern California (assistant offensive line)
1976 Fresno State (secondary)
1971-76 Gahr High School (Cerritos, Calif.) secondary, receivers, defensive coordinator, offensive coordinator/quarterbacks)

WHAT THEY SAY ABOUT RICH OLSON
Norv Turner on Olson: "Rich is a great guy, a great person and a great coach. He has a great background in the passing game. He has a complete understanding of the passing game as it relates to the quarterback. He can relate to quarterbacks. He can evaluate what they do best. He's been at Miami, so he'll be comfortable there, and I know he liked his time there. I'm happy for him."

Dave McGinnis on Olson: "Rich is very well-schooled in offensive football in a lot of areas, not just the passing game. He is equally strong in the running game. He relates well not just to quarterbacks but to everybody - offensive linemen, backs, receivers. He really has great rapport with his players. He has energy and knowledge, but it's practical knowledge, and he can put it to use. He has great knowledge of different offenses in both college and pro football."

Brad Johnson on Olson: "Rich is great with people and he's been around the college and pro game for a long time. He's very knowledgeable. He understands concepts and schemes and is going to be a huge plus for the University of Miami. I've been lucky to be with him for three seasons. He's easy to work with, very organized and makes football a lot of fun. I wish him all the luck in his new position, except when they play Florida State."