Coach Don Olsen joing Shawano Hall of Fame

Don Olsen grew up in Wittenberg and attended Wittenberg High School. He attended Stevens Point Teacher College and later earned his master’s degree from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

He served in the Army in Korea with the 45th Infantry Division from 1953-54. Olsen joined the staff at Shawano High School in the fall of 1954 as a history and geography teacher.

While at Shawano High School, Olsen wore many hats. At times, he served as the National Honor Society advisor, class advisor, and extemporaneous speech coach. He also taught drivers education for many years. In 1959-60, Olsen was the chairman of the intramural basketball program at the school.

More than any of these activities, Olsen’s passion was for the game of golf.

Even before Olsen took over as the boys golf coach in the fall of 1967, it was noted in multiple issues of the Shawanee that Olsen was a very good golfer himself. He didn’t take up the game until he came to Shawano, and he was a self-taught player.

Olsen loved to teach the game of golf to his students. He coached the boys golf team for at least 23 years, from 1967-89. Though those years, he coached a number of individual golfers who qualified for the state golf meet.

In the mid-1970s, Olsen became the coach of the girls golf program. In 1979, Olsen took the girls golf team to the state golf tournament. He continued to coach the girls golf team until his retirement from teaching.

Olsen and his wife of 70 years, Jean, raised three children, Steve, Chris and Debbie. Olsen retired from Shawano High School in 1990. After retirement, Olsen continued to play the game he loved until he physically wasn’t able to play anymore.

Olsen passed away in May at the age of 92.