Grant Olson, Defensive Coordinator - North Dakota State

Inside the Headset with the AFCA

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.

Episode Timestamps

• 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