Coach Bill Olin announces retirement

By: Amber Merrifield

Posted: 1/27/10

Going into last Saturday's game against Culver-Stockton, women's head basketball Coach Bill Olin was just 7 games away from earning 500 career wins as a head coach during his 30 years of coaching. He also stood just 12 regular season games away from the end of his coaching career.

After 30 years of coaching women's basketball and the past 11 seasons spent as head coach for the Pioneer women's basketball program, Coach Olin will be retiring at the end of this season.

"It's time, I can just tell its time," Coach Olin said, as he sat down with me for an interview for mnusports.com. "Mentally, physically, emotionally, I think I'm running out of gas and it takes a lot of energy to do this job. So the time is right."

Coach Olin's team got him one win closer to reaching 500 wins as they defeated Culver-Stockton 69-41. Senior Bethany Rexroth continued to be the powerhouse that she has shown herself to be this season, scoring a team high 19 points in the game. The Pioneers had control of the game since the first minutes ticked away, leading by 40-17 at the half.

Coach Olin and his team have had been on a winning streak since January 16, making it look like it wont be long before he reaches a 500 career win milestone.

"Whether I reach that or not really is irrelevant. The real benefits and joys come from the people I've been working with. That's where the real rewards come from."

Up next, Coach Olin and his Pioneers will take on Avila University on Thursday, Jan. 28 at 5:30 in Kansas City, Mo.