BIG RISK PAYS OFF

Olson has coached California Baptist into a Big Dance chance against UCLA tonight

History will be made this evening when the California Baptist women’s basketball team steps onto the court at Pauley Pavilion to take on nationally-ranked UCLA in the program’s first appearance in the NCAA Division I Tournament.

The path toward this historic moment started about a dozen years ago with a leap of faith.

Jarrod Olson had just completed his sixth season at Florida Southern when he interviewed for the position at California Baptist in the spring of 2012. Olson’s decision to take the job on the other side of the country caught some in the basketball world by

surprise. He was leaving a successful Division II program for one getting ready to begin to make the transition from NAIA to Division II.

“It was a big risk ... but something about it felt right, like this is the place God wanted us to be,” Olson said following the Lancers’ 75-74, come-from-behind win over Stephen F. Austin in the Western Athletic Conference Tournament’s championship game.

Olson has guided the program through two transitions, the first to Division II (201314) and another to Division I (2018-19). There have been challenges during those 12 seasons, but Olson, his staff and his players continue to raise the bar for success.

“The first word that comes to mind is help. We have had so many people contributing to our success over the years,” Olson said Sunday, moments after the Lancers learned they would be playing UCLA to open the tournament. “I have got a great staff, but it really comes down to the players. … It’s just been amazing to see the growth in what really is a short amount of time.”

Olson, 49. also gave plenty of credit for the success to Dr. Ronald L. Ellis, who has been CBU’S President since November of 1994.

WILL LESTER — STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER CBU coach Jarrod Olson celebrates after defeating UT Arlington to give the Lancers at least a share of the WAC title earlier this month.