UBC Football Coaching Change

He was UBC Thunderbirds’ former Vanier Cup-winning QB and for the past three-plus seasons its Head Coach but in a sudden announcement  Shawn Olson will be moving on from his role as UBC Head Football Coach – effective immediately!

In five seasons at the helm of the Thunderbirds program, Olson compiled a regular season record of 10-30 and was named Canada West Coach of the Year in 2011.

Olson played quarterback for five seasons at UBC from 1996-2000. He led the Thunderbirds to a Vanier Cup Championship in 1997.

The UBC Thunderbirds thank Coach Olson for his tireless leadership of the team. Coach Olson has been dedicated to the program, and to UBC, throughout his time as head coach and we wish him continued success in the future.

Shawn Olson has spent a great portion of his life rallying the troops, and that trait of positivity was perhaps the most vital personal skill that the leader of one of Canada’s most time-honoured university sports programs brought to work Friday morning, as rumours swirled regarding potential gridiron future of the blue and gold.

It is reported that some varsity programs are rumoured to be cut; as part of the school’s Sports Targeting Review process and the other sport I hear about is the men’s hockey program.

The impact that comes with naming a sport regardless of what stage it’s at will be huge.

The complete review process is a lengthy one, and some within the UBC sports community have estimated that it may be a full year before final decisions are made on which programs stay and which go.

Olson told his players “I still, in my heart and I have reasons, believe that football is not a sport the university will cut and once we go through the process that will become clear,” he said. “But for us, thinking about it as this stage doesn’t help because there is not enough information.

You can start thinking about how you are going to die today, but if you’re not dying, then you’re spending a lot of wasted time. We want to focus on living instead of the possible ways we might die.”

I for one believe that Shawn will resurface at another school and will succeed, considering the talent he brings to the game and the school regardless of where he resurfaces – except UBC.