Charlotte 49ers Name Robert Olesen Head Track and Field Coach

CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Charlotte 49ers Director of Athletics Judy Rose has announced the hiring of Robert Olesen as head men's and women's track and field coach. Olesen served as the 49ers associate head coach, last season, and has been with the 49ers since 1998. Olesen replaces long-time coach David Hall, who resigned earlier this month after 20 years with the program.

"We're thrilled to be able to attract someone of Bob's qualifications to head our track and field program. The fact that he has been with our staff is certainly advantageous in that there is no learning curve, but more importantly, he has played a large role in the success that our program has enjoyed over the last three years. Our program has taken some big steps and Bob and David both deserve a lot of credit for that. Bob is a national caliber competitor himself and he brings a winning mindset to the program."

In the last three years, the 49ers won their first track and field league title, produced their first male track and field All-Americans, and had two individuals claim Conference USA Athlete of the Year Awards.

"I am very excited about taking over the head coaching position of a program I have poured my heart and soul into for the last three years," Olesen said. "I am confident in assuming control because I feel that I have played a significant role in the rapid development of the program since my arrival. My staff and I will continue to field well-balanced exciting track and field and cross country teams. We will endeavor to consistently battle for top spots in Conference USA and represent the institution in postseason NCAA Championship action."

This past winter, the 49ers captured the Conference USA Indoor Track and Field title, behind Athlete of the Year Kenneth Svendsen. Last year, the Niners were runner-up at the C-USA indoor meet. For Olesen, who was an All-American in the triple jump at Illinois, the emergence of NCAA All-Americans Rephel Martin (triple jump) and Will Montgomery (long jump) have been especially gratifying. Martin earned All-America honors at the 2000 NCAA Outdoor Championships after being named Conference USA Athlete of the Year at the league's indoor championships. Montgomery, a 2001 NCAA All-America in the long jump, has qualified for the NCAA Championships in
both the long jump and high jump.

In addition, over the last three years, the 49ers track and field
program has also produced its first USA Junior National Team Member (2001 - Ian Dickinson) and its first Olympian (Koiyan Morlu - Liberia, 2000).

Olesen is a 1990 graduate of Illinois with a degree in kinesiology with a coaching endorsement. He earned All-America honors in the triple jump in 1989 and was the Big Ten triple jump champion and the Fighting Illini's MVP in 1990. Olesen, who first joined the Illini as a walk-on, earned four letters and competed in both the triple jump and long jump.

Olesen got his coaching start as a graduate assistant at Southwest Texas State in 1990. He served as assistant coach, there, from 1992-95. He earned his master's in physical education from Southwest Texas State in 1995.

In addition to his success on the track, Olesen was a member of the 1998 United States Olympic Bobsled Team. He trained with the U.S. Olympic team in the bobsled from 1995-1998, earning the 1995-96 USOC Athlete of the Year Award in the bobsled and being a member of the 1996-97 USOC two-man bobsled team of the year.