Olsen To Coach Next Season, Announces Retirement As Teacher

Chris Olsen will return to the sidelines to coach the football team next season and retire from the district as a physical education teacher in 2013.

The Board of Education approved a resolution at a special meeting Tuesday keeping Olsen as the coach and physical education teacher next year and accepting his retirement as a full-time employee of the district effective June 30, 2013.

“This brings closure to all of the questions that have been out there the last few months,” said District Superintendent Ray Gonzalez. “I’m looking forward to moving forward as a district. We’re finally able to put all of this behind us and move ahead.”

The announcement is the latest news involving Olsen and his team dating back to November when nine of his players were  after police said they attacked two students at a party last October.

Olsen declined to comment saying Gonzalez had not cleared him to speak to the media about the decision.

The board earlier this year that bars athletic directors from coaching sports teams or acting as advisors to extra- or co-curricular clubs or groups. 

Residents criticized Olsen for not suspending the nine players charged with aggravated assault for the team's first two state playoff games last season. Seven of the players were in February. Charges were dropped against an eighth in March.

The board announced it April it would as athletic director. The decision is part of a reorganizing the administrative structure of the district’s special education, guidance, and athletic departments. Four schools, including Wayne Hills, next year as part of the changes.

Gonzalez said that Olsen could return as football coach after next season. Coaches of athletic teams do not have to be full-time employees of the district. 

Olsen will try and win his ninth state championship next season with his son under center as quarterback. Hills with the elder Olsen at the helm in December on a late fourth quarter touchdown. 

Olsen’s house since at least March, when it was listed for $740,000. The price has since been reduced to $725,000.