COACHES PROFILE

NAME:  COACH DAVE OLSON SCHOOL: GRAND ISLAND NORTHWEST MASCOT:  VIKINGS HOW MANY YEARS HAVE YOU COACHED?  23 YEARS FOR THE OMAHA PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND 7 AT GINW. FAMILY:  WIFE KAREN AND CHILDREN AGES 33, 31, 25 & 20, FOSTER SON 15 FAVORITE BIBLE VERSE:  DEUT. 6:4-9 LISTEN ISRAEL:  THE LORD OUR GOD, THE LORD IS ONE.  LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, WITH ALL YOUR MIND AND WITH ALL YOUR STRENGTH. FAVORITE FOOD:  SPAGHETTI HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN INVOLVED IN FCA?  4 YEARS SHARE A TIP THAT HELPS YOU KEEP YOUR PERSPECTIVE AND BE CHRIST-LIKE IN YOUR COACHING:  AS SAID IN ROMANS, 1 CORINTHIANS, AND EPHESIANS, WE ARE ALL ENDOWED WITH GIFTS FROM GOD.  IF WE STAY IN THE WORD EACH DAY, WE ARE REMINDED TO USE OUR GIFTS TO THE GLORY OF GOD, NOT FOR OUR OWN GLORY.  AS COACHES WE MUST ENCOURAGE OUR YOUTH TO USE AND DEVELOP THEIR GIFTS ACCORDINGLY.  THEY CONTINUALLY HAVE SELF DOUBT AS TO THEIR ABILITIES TO COMPETE, DO THEIR BEST, ESPECIALLY WHEN CIRCUMSTANCES ARE AGAINST THEM.  THE MAIN FOCUS OF OUR PLACE HERE ON EARTH IS TO FOLLOW GOD'S PLAN RATHER THAT OUR OWN.  EACH DAY I PRAY TO THE FATHER THAT I DO HIS WILL; I SUBMIT MY LIFE TO HIM.  I ASK FOR DISCERNMENT WHEN WORKING WITH OUR YOUTH AND THAT THE WORDS THAT COME FROM MY MOUTH ARE ENCOURAGING, AND BUILDING TO THEM AND NOT SARCASTIC OR CONDESCENDING.  AS I READ THE WORDS SPOKEN BY JESUS, PAUL, MOSES AND THE PROPHETS IT KEEPS MY "SAILS SET IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION".  READING THE WORD EACH MORNING HELPS ME MENTALLY STAY FOCUSED IN THIS MATERIAL WORLD.  WITH THIS PRACTICE, THIS DISCIPLINE, I AM ABLE TO ENCOURAGE THE YOUTH TO BECOME BETTER AT ALL THEY DO.  AT THE SAME TIME TO REMAIN HUMBLE AS WE ACCOMPLISH OUR GOALS, FOR HIM.