Williams: Olszewski fufilled his destiny at UWSP

Jerry Olszewski came to the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point to become a head football coach someday.

The belief was that job would be on the sidelines with the Purple and Gold when current coach John Miech hung up his whistle and playbook for retirement and a hunting cabin in the woods.

But after serving as the Pointers defensive coordinator the past two seasons, Olszewski is moving on to greener pastures, or a frozen tundra to call his own.

On Monday, Olszewski was named the head football coach at St. Olaf University in Northfield, Minn. He replaces Chris Meidt, who resigned in February to take an offensive assistant position with the NFL's Washington.

Meidt leaves Olszewski a program that appears to be in good shape on paper. The Oles have finished 8-2 each of the last three seasons and were ranked as high as No. 13 last season.

All of which would seem to leave the word "rebuilding" out of the vocabulary for Olszewski, who leaves UW-Stevens Point without a defensive coordinator with spring practice right around the corner.

"I'm very happy for Jerry and his family," said Miech. "To get a head coaching position offers him a chance to show what type of quality coach and person he has been in our program."

Until Miech has a chance to gauge to level of interest in the position, and according to him there are a number of qualified candidates out there, he might have the perfect person to handle the job on an interim basis.

"I guess I'm the new defensive coordinator for spring practice," said Miech half-kidding. "I haven't been on that side of the ball for something like 20 years."

Change is nothing new for college football coaches who hop on and off the carousel time and time again. And sometimes change is good even for the guy in charge.

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