Jon Olson, one of Iowa’s top amateur golfers, took over as the new leader of Central College’s nationally prominent men’s golf program in 2017
Olson, the 2014 Iowa Golf Association player of the year, spent two seasons as head boys’ golf coach at Ankeny Centennial High School, piloting his squad to the Iowa Class 4A state title in 2013, less than two months after the school opened. He was named the Iowa High School Golf Coaches’ Association boys’ coach of the year. He then guided Centennial to a sixth-place state finish in 2014.
Olson has excelled as both a professional and amateur competitor. A 2003 graduate of the University of Colorado Colorado Springs, Olson was named the school’s male student-athlete of the year in 2003 and was also chosen for the Ping Division II All-America team by the Golf Coaches Association of America after leading the Mountain Lions to a 10th-place NCAA Division II team finish, the highest in school history.
He spent five years as a professional, competing on the NGA Hooters, Gateway, New England/Cleveland and Dakota tours. He’s also participated in PGA Tour and Nationwide Tour events. He served as head golf instructor at Coldwater Golf Links in Ames for a year.
Regaining amateur playing status in 2009, Olson has won the Iowa Amateur, Iowa Open and Iowa Match Play tourney crowns and is a three-time Iowa Mid-Amateur Champion. He’s twice served as Iowa Cup team captain and is a three-time U.S. Open sectional qualifier.
