Emma Olson enters her third season as Grove City College's head women's lacrosse coach in 2026-27. She came to the College in September 2024.
In her first season at the helm, Olson guided the Wolverines the Presidents' Athletic Conference title and a berth in the NCAA Division III Championship Tournament. Grove City went 9-0 in conference play, then secured home wins over Westminster and Chatham in the conference tournament to capture the league crown.
Grove City repeated as conference champion in 2026, returned to the NCAA Tournament and finished the season with a program-record 16 victories. The Wolverines recorded five shutouts as senior goalie Mia Gallagher ranked fourth nationally with a 5.77 goals-against average.
Junior attack Taylor Blythe earned the conference's Offensive Player of the Year award after leading the conference with 59 assists.
Olson came to Grove City after working as assistant women's lacrosse coach at University of Detroit Mercy during the 2023-24 academic year. She helped the Titans advance to the Mid-American Conference Tournament title game last May.
Olson's collegiate coaching career began at her alma mater, Calvin, in June 2021. She spent two seasons as assistant women's lacrosse coach with the Knights.
A native of Beaver, Pa., and a graduate of Beaver County Christian School, Olson has also worked with Pittsburgh True Lacrosse and Storm Lacrosse Club.
"Though young, our women's lacrosse program has already established itself as one of the strongest programs in the region on the field," Grove City College athletic director Todd Gibson said. "More importantly, a distinctive culture that is centered around Christ and playing in ways that glorify Him has been formed.
"Emma is a coach with the rare combination of Division III, Division I and high level club coaching experience in multiple states, a decorated playing career, and most importantly, a deep-rooted faith that is apparent in how she approaches her coaching and her life.
"When you combine those attributes with her recruiting experience and her vision for what a successful lacrosse program looks like, we believe that the trajectory of Grove City College women's lacrosse is pointing up."
Olson scored 138 goals as a midfielder for Calvin from 2017 to 2021. She led Calvin with 53 goals, 17 assists and 70 points as a senior as the Knights earned a share of the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association's regular season title in 2021. Olson earned First Team All-MIAA recognition that spring.
Olson, formerly Emma Verrett, graduated from Calvin in 2021 with a bachelor's degree in therapeutic recreation. Her younger brother Sam graduated from Grove City College in 2022.
