Max Olsan begins his first season as an assistant coach on the women's basketball staff in 2026-27.
Olsan spent the last two seasons as an assistant coach with the women’s basketball program at Pittsburgh State.
"The minute Max walks in the room you can just feel his energy," said Head Coach Phil Sayers. "When I first met Max before playing against his team a few years ago, I added him to my list of possible hires for when I became a head coach. That is the vibe you get from the moment you meet him. He is a diligent worker who has proven himself as a skill developer. His passion to teach the game and connect with our players won me over. He is a great piece to our staff puzzle."
During his time with the Gorillas, Pitt State won 51 games, including a 33-4 overall, 18-1 MIAA record in 2024-25 and claimed the MIAA Regular Season, MIAA Tournament and Central Region titles on their way to a NCAA Division II Final Four finish. Olsan helped mentor one All-American, two All-Region selections and four All-MIAA performers.
Max came to Pitt State after serving as an assistant basketball coach at Boone High School.
A sought-out trainer, he’s worked with NBA, WNBA players, the Des Moines-based AAU Iowa United and the Overtime Training Facility in Ames, Iowa. He’s also coached for All Iowa Attack youth league and helped lead numerous basketball camps, including several for NBA and WNBA players.
At Buena Vista University, he competed in basketball while earning dual degrees in sports management and digital media. He went on to earn a master’s in sports journalism from Northwestern University.
A graduate of Ballard High School in Huxley, Iowa, where he was a team captain his senior year. Helped lead Ballard to its first basketball state championship appearance in 15 years.
