Chris Olean

Chris Olean
Current position
TitleHead coach
TeamSt. Thomas (MN)
ConferenceSummit League
Record384–235–1
Biographical details
Born (1977-05-29) May 29, 1977 (age 47)
Owatonna, Minnesota
Playing career
1996–1999St. Thomas (MN)
1999Ogden Raptors
1999Helena Brewers
2000Beloit Snappers
2001St. Paul Saints
Position(s)Pitcher
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
2001–2009St. Thomas (MN) (P)
2010–presentSt. Thomas (MN)
Head coaching record
Overall384–235–1
TournamentsSummit: 0–0
MIAC: 5–6
NCAA: 0–0
Accomplishments and honors
Championships
  • 8× MIAC regular season (2010–2014, 2016, 2017, 2021)
  • Summit League regular season (2024)
  • 3× MIAC Tournament (2010, 2013, 2014)

Christopher R. Olean is a baseball coach and former pitcher, who is the current head baseball coach of the St. Thomas (MN) Tommies. He played college baseball at St. Thomas (MN) where he played for head coach Dennis Denning from 1996 to 1999 before playing professionally from 1999 to 2001.

Playing career

Olean attended Washburn High School, in Minneapolis, Minnesota and played college baseball at University of St. Thomas (Minnesota). He was named the MIAC Pitcher of the Year in 1999.[1] He finished his career with the 2nd most strikeouts in Tommie history with 246.[2] Olean was then drafted in the 17th round of the 1999 Major League Baseball draft by the Milwaukee Brewers.[3] He began his professional career with the Ogden Raptors before moving to the Helena Brewers.[4] For the 2000 season, Olean played for the Beloit Snappers.[5] Olean joined the St. Paul Saints during the summer of 2001.

Coaching career

After serving as interim head coach for the 2010 season, Olean was named the permanent head coach of the Tommies on January 12, 2011.[6] During their final season of playing Division III, Olean lead the Tommies to the College World Series,[7] finishing as the runner-up.[8] Olean will lead the Tommies into the Division I ranks as St. Thomas joins the Summit League for the 2022 season.[9]

Head coaching record

Statistics overview
Season Team Overall Conference Standing Postseason
St. Thomas Tommies (Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference) (2010–2021)
2010 St. Thomas (MN) 35–9 15–5 1st NCAA Midwest Regional
2011 St. Thomas (MN) 28–18 16–4 T-1st NCAA Midwest Regional
2012 St. Thomas (MN) 41–10 19–1 1st College World Series
2013 St. Thomas (MN) 34–7 19–1 1st NCAA Midwest Regional
2014 St. Thomas (MN) 39–9 18–2 1st College World Series
2015 St. Thomas (MN) 24–16–1 11–7 4th MIAC Tournament
2016 St. Thomas (MN) 25–15 14–6 1st MIAC Tournament
2017 St. Thomas (MN) 29–18 16–4 T-1st NCAA Midwest Regional
2018 St. Thomas (MN) 20–18 13–7 T-3rd MIAC Tournament
2019 St. Thomas (MN) 20–17 11–9 5th
2020 St. Thomas (MN) 6–1 0–0 Season canceled due to Covid-19
2021 St. Thomas (MN) 37–10 17–2 1st College World Series
St. Thomas (MN): 169–48
St. Thomas Tommies (Summit League) (2022–present)
2022 St. Thomas (MN) 16–29 10–14 5th
2023 St. Thomas (MN) 10–34 6–18 7th
2024 St. Thomas (MN) 20–24 15–10 1st
St. Thomas (MN): 384–235–1 31–42
Total: 384–235–1

      National champion         Postseason invitational champion  
      Conference regular season champion         Conference regular season and conference tournament champion
      Division regular season champion       Division regular season and conference tournament champion
      Conference tournament champion

References

  1. ^ "1999 MIAC Baseball Awards". www.miacathletics.com. Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference. Retrieved November 7, 2021.
  2. ^ "Saints Turn to Local Talent for a Pair of Arms". www.oursportscentral.com. OurSports Central. April 2, 2012. Retrieved November 8, 2021.
  3. ^ "1999 Milwaukee Brewers Draft Picks". www.thebaseballcube.com. The Baseball Cube. Retrieved November 8, 2021.
  4. ^ "O's streak snapped at nine". www.missoulian.com. BLOX Content Management System. June 1, 1999. Retrieved November 8, 2021.
  5. ^ K. J. Pilcher (June 6, 2021). "St. Thomas posts 5th straight comeback to reach NCAA D-III baseball championship series". www.thegazette.com. The Gazette. Retrieved November 8, 2021.
  6. ^ "Play Ball: Chris Olean Named Baseball Head Coach". www.stthomas.edu. University of St. Thomas, Minnesota. January 12, 2010. Retrieved November 7, 2021.
  7. ^ "University of St. Thomas baseball team ready for final D-III World Series". www.kstp.com. KSTP-TV, LLC. June 4, 2021. Retrieved November 9, 2021.
  8. ^ Jim Dixon (June 7, 2021). "Salisbury flies high, wins first baseball title". www.d3baseball.com. D3SPORTS.COM. Retrieved November 9, 2021.
  9. ^ "St. Thomas receives NCAA waiver to join The Summit League in 2021-22". thesummitleague.org.