| Wins against Kentucky - 4 | Losses against Kentucky - 3 |
Alma Mater: Wisconsin [1917]
Hometown: Rice Lake, WI
Date Born: May 12, 1895
Date Died: October 29, 1953
Overall Record: 305-234 [30 Seasons]

Obituary - Chicago Tribune (October 30, 1953)

Olsen, Ex-N.U. Basketball Coach, Dies

POOR HEALTH FORCED HIM TO QUIT WILDCATS

Led Ohio State for 24 Years.

Rice Lake, Wis., Oct. 29 (AP) - Harold G. Olsen, a prominent basketball figure for nearly 30 years, died tonight at Lakeside hospital.

Olsen, 57, was dean of Big Ten basketball coaches when he left Ohio State in 1946 to coach the Chicago Stags, professional team. He had been at Ohio State 24 years, five times winning or sharing the Big Ten title in that span.

National Basket Figure

When the Stags quit, Olsen was named coach at Northwestern on April 6, 1950, and served there until ill health forced his retirement after the 1951-52 season. He was past president of the National Association of Basketball coaches, a former chairman of the National Collegiate Athletic Association basketball playoffs for eight years, chairman of the N.C.A.A. rules committee, chairman of the National Basketball Association of the United State and Canada, and a member of the 1948 Olympic basketball committee. He had been operating a boys' camp at Sarona, Wis., since 1929.

Product of Wisconsin

Olsen was a product of the University of Wisconsin, where he played basketball under Dr. Walter E. Meanwell in 1915-17, and also participated in football and baseball.

The calm, mild-mannered Olsen had been in failing health for two years. He was admitted to the hospital at Rice Lake Oct. 21. He lived at Evanston Ill., and is survived by a daughter.

Olsen long was recognized as one of basketball's outstanding figures and most progressive leaders. In 1945, the National Association of Basketball Coaches awarded him its annual trophy as the man who had contributed "the most outstanding service to the game over a period of years."

Guided N.C.A.A. Playoffs

Under his guidance, the N.C.A.A. national playoffs grew from a small start, losing $2,500 in 1939, to one of basketball's greatest promotions.

Olsen's long career on the N.C.A.A. rules committee included, as one outstanding contribution, the origination of the 10 second rule which forces a team to bring the ball across midcourt within that time. The rule was vital in speeding up the game.

Former Wisconsin Star

Olsen had been identified with basketball since his student days at the University of Wisconsin, where he won three letters and was captain of the 1916-17 team. After graduation he enlisted in the air force.

Following his discharge as a second lieutenant, Olsen accepted his first coaching assignment at Ripon College in 1918. Three years later he was named head basketball coach at Ohio State, a post he was to hold for 24 years. His Buckeye teams won five Western Conference titles.

Coached Professional Stags

He resigned the Ohio State position in 1946 to take over the helm of the newly organized Chicago Stags in the National Professional League. During his three years tenure with the Stags the team finished third in its first year, then lost to the Minneapolis Lakers in the league's title playoffs the succeeding seasons.

Olsen was appointed Northwestern coach in the spring of 1950, replacing Arthur [Dutch] Lonborg, who was named Kansas athletic director. Olsen's 1950-51 Wildcat team finished the Big Ten campaign in a three-way tie for fourth place. The 1951-52 squad wound up eight.

Left N.U. in 1952

Illness forced his withdrawal from the Northwestern post and he was succeeded by Waldo Fisher June 17, 1952.

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