This week on Inside the Headset – Presented by CoachComm, we're joined by Grant Olson, Defensive Coordinator and Linebackers Coach at North Dakota State University.
Coach Olson shares his journey from student assistant to defensive coordinator at his alma mater, with lessons learned at Wyoming and Indiana State, the influence of NDSU's coaching tradition, and the honor of being selected for the AFCA 35 Under 35 program.
📌 Inside the Headset delivers weekly conversations with coaches from all levels of football.
1:13 – Introduction
1:50 – Deciding to pursue coaching
3:30 – Lineage of successful NDSU coaches
5:15 – Coaching at your alma mater
8:45 – Balancing past success with motivation
10:55 – Starting as an NDSU student assistant
14:20 – Moving from engineering to coaching
15:40 – Graduate assistant role at Wyoming
21:20 – Highs and lows at Wyoming
23:30 – Managing player-to-coach relationships
25:50 – Challenges as a graduate assistant
27:40 – First full-time role at Indiana State
33:45 – Lessons from first position
35:00 – Returning to NDSU
40:15 – Full-circle success coaching linebackers
46:55 – Taking on Special Teams Coordinator role
50:35 – Transition to Defensive Coordinator
55:37 – AFCA 35 Under 35 experience
58:30 – Closing thoughts
