Larry Olimb, the all-time career assists leader in over 100 seasons of Minnesota Gophers hockey, made headlines once again when he accepted the head coach position for the Orono High School girls hockey program in the summer of 2022. Despite it being his first season coaching high school hockey, Olimb achieved remarkable success. The Spartans had an impressive overall record of 24-4-4, advanced to the state championship game, and finished as runners-up.
Olimb’s coaching prowess led to a career-winning percentage of .812, an exceptional feat in any level of sports. However, his journey to the state title game held a special significance for him. Olimb, originally from Warroad, faced off against his childhood friend David “Izzy” Marvin, who coached the opposing team. The reunion between the lifelong friends added another chapter to their story.
While the season ended on a high note, with the Spartans celebrating their achievements at the traditional post-season banquet, Olimb’s coaching career at Orono High School was unexpectedly cut short. Following pressure from a group of parents who were dissatisfied with his coaching style and player interactions, Olimb tentatively offered to resign in mid-April. Despite expressing his desire to continue as the team’s coach, the parent group insisted that his resignation offer was binding and irreversible. As of mid-June, the school has not announced a new coach.
Throughout the season, Olimb’s coaching style had been effective, with the players responding positively and achieving on-ice success. In an interview with The Rink Live, Olimb emphasized his preference for a team that works hard in practice and applies what they’ve learned during games. He devised practice plans, arranged line charts, and expected the players to demonstrate their skills during matches.
The Spartans’ performance was impressive, as they had a record of 9-3-2 by the start of 2023. They embarked on a remarkable 15-0-2 streak, ultimately reaching the state championship game after defeating Holy Angels in the section title game. Olimb described the season as “awesome,” praising the girls for their phenomenal play, teamwork, and perseverance, particularly evident during the state tournament.
Behind the scenes, however, Olimb faced criticism from a small but vocal parent group. Allegations included reducing the on-ice role of a player who had returned from injury, insufficient coaching during games, and a perceived lack of effort in promoting players to college coaches. Olimb clarified that the responsibility of promoting players had been assigned to one of his assistant coaches. A meeting between Olimb and two parents took place, where a list of perceived coaching shortcomings was presented and discussed.
The meeting ended amicably, but Olimb’s frustration grew in the following 24 hours. Feeling upset, he sent a private and sarcastic email to the two parents, expressing his willingness to step aside if they believed they could find a better coach. Unfortunately, the email was misinterpreted and forwarded to other parents, the school, and even shared anonymously on social media. Consequently, it was announced that Olimb would be resigning from the Orono program. Despite his clarification that the email was not a formal resignation, a vocal anti-Olimb parent group insisted on moving forward without him.
In May, the executive director of human resources for the Orono school district requested a formal letter of resignation from Olimb, but he declined and instead offered his original reply to the two parents. The situation created a firestorm of negative stories and rumors, leaving Olimb concerned about the potential impact on the players, especially in future seasons when facing adversity.
The departure of Olimb was not the only loss for the Orono High School athletics department. The school’s athletic director, Derek Brinkman, also resigned during the same period, citing the negative atmosphere and the impact it had on the players. Brinkman highlighted the need to focus on the student-athletes and their well-being, urging everyone to remember the positive aspects of the program.
As Olimb and his wife, Kim, transition into a new phase of their lives with their youngest child graduating from high school, he remains open to coaching opportunities if the right one presents itself. He hopes that something positive can emerge from the situation and sends his best wishes to the Orono players as they continue their hockey journey under new leadership.
