Utica University Athletics

In her second season, Coach Rinae Olsen led the Pioneers to an overall record of 22-15, which is tied for the third most wins in program history. The Pioneers success continued into the Empire 8 Conference Tournament, where the team made its first championship game since 2018. 10 players garnered 11 All-Conference selections with Jennifer Rodriguez earning top honors as the Empire 8 Rookie of the Year. Rodriguez collected several accolades including National Fastpitch Coaches Association All-Region III First Team as the designated player/utility as well as a National Fastpitch Coaches Association All-American Third Team honor. Rodriguez is just the second player in program history to become an NFCA All-American. Emily Joss was selected to the National Fastpitch Coaches Association All-Region III capturing second team honors as an outfielder. 

In her first season, Olsen coached the Pioneers to an overall record of 19-16 record and 8-8 in the conference; this is the most wins the Pioneers have had since the 2018 season for both. Five pioneers received All-Conference honors, including Erica Sanford being named Sportswoman of the Year for Utica. In the league, the Pioneers were tied for second for home runs, third with 107 RBIs, and second with a .445 slugging percentage. The pitching staff ranked fourth for ERA with over 227 innings pitched. 

Utica University Athletic Director Dave Fontaine announced the hiring of Rinae Olsen '09 in June 2022 as the next Head Coach of the Utica softball program.  Olsen will be in charge of all facets of the program including scouting, recruiting, game and practice preparation, as well as day-to-day operations in the office.
 
"We are thrilled to have Rinae back at Utica to take over our softball program," said Fontaine. "With her track record of success at Utica as well as in the Liberty League, we have no doubts that she will take the program to new heights."
 
Olsen is no stranger to Utica as she was a four-year starter at first base for the Pioneers.  She ranks sixth in program history with 147 games played.  She is also eighth in Utica's record book with a .981 career fielding percentage and she is ninth in career RBIs (71).  She helped guide the Pioneers to a second-place finish in the Empire 8 and the ECAC Tournament after going 31-11 in 2006.
 
After graduation, Olsen stayed on as an assistant coach where she helped the program to unprecedented success. In 2013, Utica captured its first-ever Empire 8 regular season championship.  The Pioneers finished as Empire 8 runners-up but earned an at-large selection into the NCAA Tournament for the first time ever. That same year, junior Chelsea Monroe earned Empire 8 Player of the Year while freshman Alysa Russell was named the E8 Rookie of the Year.
 
After leaving Utica, Olsen spent six years as an assistant coach at perennial powerhouse Ithaca College.  Olsen helped guide the Bombers to four conference championships and five NCAA Tournament appearances including a third-place finish in 2018.  The Ithaca coaching staff was named NFCA Regional Coaching Staff of the Year twice during Olsen's tenure.
 
Most recently, Olsen has spent the past three seasons as head coach at Skidmore College.  During her first full year of coaching due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Olsen guided the Thoroughbreds to a 24-14 overall record and an appearance in the Liberty League Tournament.
 
Olsen earned her Bachelor’s degree in public relations from Utica in 2009.  Originally from Schenectady, NY, Olsen currently resides in Utica with her wife Kourtney.