Entering just his second season as the head men's basketball coach at UC San Diego, Eric Olen is hardly a newcomer on the La Jolla campus. With nine years under his belt as an assistant coach for both Bill Carr and Chris Carlson, the Alabama native and Spring Hill College graduate made a smooth transition into the head-coaching ranks despite taking over the reins from Carlson just weeks prior to the start of the 2013-14 season. Olen proved an apt choice, leading the Tritons to 15 wins (their most since 2008-09) and a seventh-place finish in the CCAA standings, just one spot short of a conference tournament berth after being tabbed for 11th in a preseason poll of league coaches. As he prepares his squad for a much more typical entry into the 2014-15 campaign, Olen took time to reflect on the last year and look at what's ahead.
Q: What was the most difficult part of taking over as head coach at such a late date last season?
OLEN: Any time there is a coaching change, it can be difficult for the players to adjust. I was fortunate that our players made it easy on me by continuing to work hard and maintain positive attitudes toward everything we were doing.
Q: Once in that position, were there any areas you found different, more challenging, than what you expected?
OLEN: Sleeping at night became more difficult.
Q: Conversely, what are some of the positives about being a head coach as opposed to being an assistant?
OLEN: I was lucky to work for coaches that allowed me to be very involved as an assistant, but it is never the same as being the person who makes the final decisions. Everything is amplified when you move over one chair, but if you are a competitor, you welcome that responsibility. Having more influence on the direction of our program is exciting, especially at a time when the entire department is making so many positive changes.
Q: Your first Triton team won 15 games, the most since the 2008-09 season. Given the sudden nature of the coaching change, was that surprising to you?
OLEN: I don't think the suddenness of the change had much impact on our season. The players deserve a lot of credit for the way they handled it and their ability to focus on the things they could control.
Q: Two immediate questions about this year's squad. Without a senior on the team, where is the floor leadership going to come from, and how do you plan to replace four-year starting point guard James McCann?
OLEN: You don't have to be a senior to be leader. I think an important part of being a leader is setting a standard for everyone else. I have been very pleased with the standard that is being set by our returning players. The older guys have done a fantastic job of demonstrating the way we want go about our business. We have tremendous leadership despite not having a senior.
James McCann is one of the best players in the history of our program and we are excited that he is continuing his career for Leeds Force in the British Basketball League. I do not expect any one player to replace James' production from last season. It will be a collective effort from everyone. I expect our offense to be more balanced since no one player will control the ball the way James did last season.
Q: Talk about “Eric Olen basketball.” What are the things that you would want an observer to notice about a team that you coach?
OLEN: I don't believe in “Eric Olen basketball.” I want to be a part of teams that are determined to be the best and driven to improve on a daily basis. We want to make decisions based on positively impacting our teammates. I want players to be relentless in their competitive spirit and consistently play with effort, toughness, resiliency and focus on each play. The goal is for our opponents to hate to compete against us.
Q: What have you taken from head coaches you've served under, specifically Bill Carr and Chris Carlson?
OLEN: I played for Coach Carr before coming here to work for him and he is responsible for my becoming a coach. One of the most important things I learned from him is accountability. The best teachers are often the most demanding, and Coach Carr is a great teacher.
I learned a lot from Coach Carlson in the six years I worked for him. His ability to develop players and build a team is something that stood out. Coach Carlson was completely invested in the development and experience of every player on his team. Both of the coaches that I worked for had a major impact on me as a coach and a person. I am very appreciative of the opportunity to work for each of them. I know that any team I coach will be influenced by those experiences.
There are so many coaches I admire and try to emulate. As a young coach, I am always trying to learn and grow from the ideas and practices of those with more experience.
Q: Your staff will look much different than it did last year. The new associate head coach is former UCSD standout Clint Allard, who played for you and later worked with you on Chris Carlson's staff. What type of impact has Clint's return had on you and the program?
OLEN: Clint was a very good player, but he's an even better coach. His understanding of the game, work ethic and competitiveness all helped as a player, and as a coach, those traits still apply. He has a lot of experience in our program and in the CCAA. It is really valuable for our current players to have a coach on the staff that has been in their shoes both as a player and as a student. Clint is involved in every aspect of our team, and having him back on the staff has been a benefit to the entire program.
Q: The CCAA is one of the toughest Division II conferences in the country. What are some of the challenges you face as a coach playing back-to-back games every week (both home and road)?
OLEN: Playing back-to-back (nights) is difficult on several levels. Preparation on the second night, managing minutes so that players can perform consistently, and varying styles of opponents are all issues that we deal with in the CCAA. I think this is the best conference in Division II because of the quality of the players and coaches. There are no easy games in our league, and that is what makes it so tough.
Q: UCSD has a slew of successful coaches on its athletics staff. Are there any that you like to “talk shop” with, bounce ideas off of or just observe what they do?
OLEN: One of the things that makes this a great place to work is the other coaches in the department. Many of them have offered advice or provided insight based on their experiences. Coach (Heidi) VanDerveer of the women's program is the person who has been the most helpful. Coaching the same sport and having so much experience, Heidi has been really supportive, whether we are talking Xs and Os, or how to handle the off-the-court responsibilities that come with being a head coach.
Q: College basketball coaches are notorious workaholics. What do you do to get away from the stress and long hours during the season and off-season?
OLEN: Most of my vacation time is spent visiting family or catching up with friends. I'm pretty content to just relax at home watching a movie or reading a book. I enjoy golfing, too, but being really bad takes some of the fun out of it.
Q: You're an Alabama native and a well-known follower of University of Alabama athletics, particularly football, so we'll go with that sport. In your opinion, best football coach in Alabama history, best player, and your best/worst moments in Crimson Tide history?
OLEN: Not sure how Alabama football questions will play with a West Coast audience, but I'm always willing to talk football.
Coach: Nick Saban - I wasn't following during the Bear Bryant era. Saban pays great attention to detail throughout his organization, and there's a real emphasis on the process of being successful, not so much the results.
Player: Derrick Thomas - Have had some great ones recently, so this was a tough choice. He's the all-time sack leader and was a dominant player throughout his NFL career.
Lowlight: 2013 Iron Bowl was worst moment. The way that game ended with the returned field goal for a touchdown and the fact the opponent was Auburn made it tough to watch. As soon as it happened, I turned the TV off and didn't even see the score. Whenever the replay comes on now, I turn it off.
Highlight: 2009 vs. Tennessee was the best moment. Alabama blocked a kick in the final seconds to avoid the upset and went on to an undefeated season and national championship. The rollercoaster of thinking the game was lost and then getting a great win was incredible.
Q: What can Triton fans expect to see from your 2014-15 team? What will be the biggest difference, stylistically, from last season? What would make this season a success in your eyes?
OLEN: I think fans will see a team that competes on every possession. They should expect our team to play with great energy, effort and enthusiasm at all times. I hope that they will be as much fun to watch as they are to coach.
The biggest stylistic change from last season will be the balance and depth that we have, and the way we move the ball offensively. Our offensive production could come from any number of guys on a given night.
This season will be a success if our players and team continue to improve throughout the year. We will be working hard every day to try to play our best basketball. Our focus will be on the process and not the results. If we take that approach, then I am confident we will be satisfied with what we accomplish.
Previous Triton Q&A Features
Mitchell Shulman (Men's Fencing) November 13, 2014
Paul Li (Men's Swimming & Diving) November 1, 2014
Paige Hughes (Women's Cross Country) October 20, 2014
Danielle Dahle (Women's Volleyball) October 14, 2014
Tareq Alwafai (Men's Cross Country) September 25, 2014
David Higginson (Men's Water Polo) September 18, 2014
Matthew McClure (Men's Soccer) September 10, 2014
Caitlin Brenton (Women's Volleyball) September 3, 2014
Michelle Yasutake (Women's Soccer) August 25, 2014
2013-14 • 2010-13 • 2004-09
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