Oliver William Olson
October 29, 1939 – April 26, 2025
Bill Olson, a devoted family man and beloved educator, coach, and mentor, passed away peacefully in his sleep at the age of 85. Born in Leigh, Nebraska, to Elsie and Oliver Olson, Bill grew up in Fremont, Nebraska, where he graduated from Fremont High School in 1957. A standout athlete, he earned All-Conference honors in football, setting the stage for a lifetime of achievements in sports.
Bill attended Hastings College on football and baseball scholarships, where he was a guard for teammate and friend Tom Osborne. He earned letters in both football (3 years) and baseball (2 years), and met the love of his life, Sandra Cassell, whom he married in 1960. Bill later transferred to Midland Lutheran College, where he captained both the football and baseball teams and earned All-Conference honors in both sports.
In 1962, Bill began his teaching and coaching career in North Platte, Nebraska, where he served as an assistant football coach and head coach of American Legion baseball. In 1966, Bill and Sandra moved to Scribner, Nebraska, where Bill taught math and became the Head Football and Track Coach, as well as the American Legion baseball coach for Fremont.
Bill’s career took him to Council Bluffs, Iowa, in 1968, where he taught math and coached football, baseball, and track at Lewis Central High School. In 1972, he moved to Omaha, Nebraska, to become the head baseball coach at Northwest High School, also serving as an assistant football coach until his retirement.
Bill was much more than a coach; he was a mentor who inspired his students and athletes to give their best. His work ethic and dedication created a lasting legacy in the lives he touched.
Bill is survived by his devoted wife of 64 years, Sandra; their children, Gregg (Jill) and Tammi (Justin); grandchildren: Brett (Savanne), Brooke, Jakob, Ashley, Jocelyn, Ryan, and Sydney; and great-granddaughter, Charli. He is also survived by his siblings, Bob (Carol) and Ilene (Larry), along with numerous nieces and nephews.
Bill’s legacy will live on in the memories of his family, students, and athletes. His love for teaching, coaching, and family will always be cherished.
Please join Family and Friends for a CELEBRATION of BILL’s LIFE: Monday, May 5, 2025, 2:00 PM, Relevant Community Church, 21220 Elkhorn Drive, Elkhorn, NE 68022.
Reception to Follow. Family requests guests wear their favorite jersey to remember Coach.
In lieu of flowers, please consider supporting StellaOlsonfoundation.org.
To view a live Broadcast of the Service, please visit www.heafeyheafey.com and click on the “Live Cast” at the top of the home page.
Heafey-Hoffmann-Dworak-Cutler, West Center Chapel, 7805 West Center Road, Omaha, Ne 68124. (402)-391-3900. www.heafeyheafey.com
19 Comments
To a wonderful family. I remember all the great years at Holy Cross where I met you all. My family and I would like to extend our sympathy and God’s blessings to you all. Alden, Kris and Dawn
So sad to learn of Bill’s passing. Baseball has lost a great teacher of the game not only to the players he coached but also to the coaches he coached. I was blessed to have known Bill. He will be missed by many but even more by his family. So very sorry for your loss.
My prayers and condolences to Coach Bill’s family. He made such an impact in many young people’s lives. I played baseball for Bill at ONW (graduated 1978). When I ran into Bill a few year’s ago (at the CWS) I made a point to say “thank you for teaching me more about life than about baseball”.
Coach Olson meant so much to our family, the NW High school family. Coach Olson was one of the finest people I’ve known and his amazing ability to teach, coach, guide.& mentor. to the entire Olson family, thank you for sharing him with all of us!! Our hearts are sad with you with his passing. He left this world making it a better place for all who were privileged to have known him.
Kimberle (Smith) Rupert, ’74
Rick Smith, ’73
NWHS
My condolences to the family. Bill was one of a kind and will be greatly missed by all of us who knew Bill. Bill did so much for the Omaha and beyond baseball community. What was appreciated more than Bill’s teaching of baseball (which cannot be overstated) was his concern for those he coached and what impact he could and would have on their lives!
What wonderful memories of Bill, Sandy, Gregg, and Tammi when our daughters attended Northwest High. A beautiful loving family and a very respected coach. My sincere sympathy to the Olson Family. May Bill Rest in Peace.
Losing Bill is like losing a member of your family; he was truly a Christian, a gentleman, an outstanding teacher and coach. I pray for Bill and his his wife Sandy, may he rest in peace. You will be missed by many my friend!
Coach Olson was a wonderful man and an awesome coach and teacher. I am so very grateful for the opportunity he gave my son, Michael. Coach Olson meant so much to the Koltz Family. RIP Coach
As a talented coach, Bill Olson must have read coach John Wooden’s book. If not, he could have co-authored with Wooden. Bill’s mantra of attention to detail, and constant self-improvement are defined in Coach Wooden’s The Pyramid of Success, Skill is so important, but competitive greatness is more so in any endeavor, vocation, regardless of societies imposed or supposed values. If you do your best and give it your all while constantly striving for improvement, you are a success. Bill got students and colleagues to buy into this thinking, and great success followed. Bill and Sandy created this atmosphere, set the example at home and their Tammi and Gregg prospered accordingly. His success is recorded with many “diamonds” left.
RIP Coach you were and are still the best I know you are in baseball heaven coaching
To Sandy and family. You and Bill were the best neighbors ever! My son Dan looked up to Biil and Gregg the entire time we lived next door. He will forever be so many peoples GOAT , we’ll deserved. My sincere sympathy to the entire family. Lo-Ann
Mr Olsen was one of my favorite math teachers. I was privileged to be in his trig class. Bill was obviously a man who excelled in so many arenas in life. My condolences to all the family in your time of loss.
To coach Olsons family my deepest sympathies. He was not only a great coach to all his player’s. But he was a good man, i learned much from him. May God bless you all. David Wilcox 1974 husky baseball. Rest in peace coach a life well lived
Proud to say I had great experience of playing for Coach way back in 1969 when we won the Iowa State Legion Championship with C B Rainbows.Best coach I ever had.He was a winner and class act in every way.Thanks for your service in teaching and coaching,and being such a positive role model.Condolences to the Olson Family and all the baseball community He touched.
Proud to say I played for Coach way back in 1969 when we won the Iowa State Legion Championship for the C B Rainbows.Best coach I ever had.He was a winner and class act by every definition.Thanks for all your years of service in teaching and coaching,and being such a great role model to all.Condolences to the Olson family and all the baseball community he touched
I played football under Bill in North Platte the Fall of 1964. What a coach!!
Our SHS Class of ‘66 would like to extend our sympathies to Coach Olson’s Family.
Our Thought & Prayers for God’s Comfort & Peace to All
To the Olson Family: I am very sorry for your loss. I did not have the honor to play on a team that Mr. Olson coached nor did I take a class from him at Omaha Northwest. That said, his positive spirit, his ability to reach and teach students and make them laugh while holding them accountable was inspiring in the hallways of school. He was such a great influence on the culture of Northwest–across sports as well as other extracurricular activities. I can still remember him yelling (mostly encouragement and sometimes about some “development areas”) at his teams when I was in the parking lot by the gym and he was on the baseball field across campus. Such a good man. He made his mark. John Bausch (Class of 1974).
I send Prayers and Condolences to Olsen Family, I can not describe the impact Coach had on me and so many more. What a wonderful Person and happy he touched my life. (Class of 88)
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