NORTHFIELD, Minn. - Following a four-season stint as an assistant coach and associate head coach with the program, Justin Oliver has been named the ninth head coach of the St. Olaf College men's soccer program, as announced by St. Olaf Athletic Director Ryan Bowles on Wednesday.
 
Oliver, who spent spent four seasons working alongside Travis Wall from 2019-22, takes over after Wall resigned on Monday to to accept the head coaching position at Kenyon College in his home state of Ohio. Oliver is the ninth head coach in program history.
 
"I am thrilled to elevate Justin to the role of head coach," Bowles said. "In his time here, he has been a vital part of our success and it is clear to me that the continuity that Justin will provide will allow our program to continue on its upward trajectory. We are fortunate to have someone like Justin to be able to step in and hit the ground running."
 
After coming to the Hill in January 2019, Oliver helped Wall build St. Olaf into one of the top programs in the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAC) and the region, winning a pair of MIAC titles and making back-to-back appearances in the "Sweet 16" of the NCAA Tournament. In addition to winning the 2021 MIAC regular-season title with an unblemished 10-0-0 record - just the fifth time a team accomplished the feat in conference history - and winning the 2022 MIAC Playoffs, the Oles matched their deepest-ever runs in the NCAA Tournament with consecutive "Sweet 16" appearances in 2021 and 2022, becoming one of just five NCAA Division III men's soccer programs to do so. In total, St. Olaf went 43-18-3 (.695) overall during Oliver's four seasons on the staff, including a mark of 22-7-1 (.750) in MIAC play.
 
"I am incredibly excited to come back and lead the program that I was part of for the last four-and-a-half years and helped Travis build," Oliver said. "I love St. Olaf College and the men's soccer program and this opportunity is a dream come true for me. I am very thankful to Travis for helping make me into the coach I am today to be able to be in this position. I am incredibly thankful to Ryan Bowles for trusting and believing in me to be the next person to lead the men's soccer program into its bright future."
 
In Oliver's four seasons with the program, St. Olaf produced three United Soccer Coaches All-Americans, four D3soccer.com All-Americans, eight United Soccer Coaches All-Region honorees, four MIAC major award recipients, 12 All-MIAC selections, four Honorable Mention All-MIAC honorees, and 30 Academic All-MIAC honorees. After not appearing in the national rankings since the end of the 2015 seasons, the Oles were ranked in the United Soccer Coaches Top 25 nine times over the last two seasons and ended both the 2021 and 2022 seasons ranked in the top 15 nationally.
 
"There isn't a better person more prepared to keep Ole men's soccer towards the top of the MIAC and region than Justin Oliver," Wall said. "He was with me since my first day on the job and has been instrumental in the success we've had. Justin has earned this opportunity and his hiring will ensure the program continues moving in the right direction. His ability to connect with the guys and his soccer IQ are special. I'm so happy for both St. Olaf and for Justin. The program is in the best of hands!"
 
Prior to joining Wall's staff, Oliver was the head coach at North St. Paul High School in 2018, leading the team to a 14-4-0 record, and also has coached club soccer at St. Croix Academy from 2015 - present. During his playing days, Oliver spent three years at NCAA Division I Eastern Illinois University before transferring to the University of St. Thomas, where he was a United Soccer Coaches Second Team All-American as a senior while helping the Tommies to MIAC regular-season and playoff titles, as well as an appearance in the national quarterfinals. Following graduation, Oliver played with Kaw Valley FC and Minneapolis SC of USL League Two and went on trial with USL Championship side Louisville City FC.
 
St. Olaf opens its 2023 season by hosting the University of Chicago - the defending national champion - on Friday, Sept. 1 at Rolf Mellby Field.