Olson promoted to head boys basketball coach at Ferris High

Ferris High junior varsity basketball coach Barry Olson has been chosen the new head Saxons boys coach, replacing Don Van Lierop, whose contract was not renewed in May.

Olson’s selection was announced in a press release by Spokane Public Schools. The school district had decided not to renew Van Lierop’s supplemental coaching contract, stating it wanted to take the program in a new direction.

Olson said he was honored to be Ferris’ new basketball coach, although he would have hoped under different circumstances, just as his predecessor would have rather taken it over when the late Wayne Gilman retired, rather than because of his untimely death.

“To be honest you hope it’s a job you don’t have to accept,” said Olson of becoming the new basketball coach. “But for me it’s a dream situation and I’m honored to be asked to take it over.”

Though short on boys coaching experience, Olson spent 17 years coaching girls basketball at Thompson Valley High School, a fast-growing school in Loveland, Colo.

His teams won four league titles and reached the state finals four times, winning three championships while compiling an overall 216-149 record. He was named state coach of the year four times and conference coach of the year five times.

“I coach basketball and teach the game,” said Olson, when asked if he was worried about the gender switch. “Obviously, there are physical differences and all that fun stuff. But I think, in terms of the way I approach coaching, there’s no difference.”

Olson joked that his wife and a moving van brought him to Spokane four years ago. When Beth Olson completed her doctorate at the University of Northern Colorado, she was hired as Dean of Students at Gonzaga University.

He was hired at Post Falls and assisted Dave Stockwell in boys basketball before “jumping at” a mathematics position, he has held the past three years at Ferris. He currently is the department chairperson and has been Saxons’ junior varsity coach all three years.

“I conned Don into letting me coach with him,” Olson said, with a laugh.

He said he told former Ferris assistant principal of activities Ken Russell, that he coaches for kids.

“Everything I do will be for the benefit of the kids and betterment of the program,” said Olson. “Don and I have similar philosophies. There will be no major changes, just subtle things.”