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Baseball coach Olsen left his mark on all of his players

By EDDIE DANIELS

edaniels@tampatrib.com

Published: October 24, 2009

WESLEY CHAPEL - There is no doubt that Harry Olsen Sr.'s footprints are everywhere.

When an assistant baseball coach was robbed of everything two weeks ago, including a video-game console belonging to his children, Olsen gave his family's Wii to the coach.

When Olsen, who helped guide the Land O' Lakes Junior All-Stars to consecutive District 25 titles (2007 and '08), was on the baseball diamond, he made sure to instill a core set of values in his players.

Friday morning, after being placed in an induced coma at University Community Hospital in Tampa, Olsen died of an apparent heart attack. He was 42.

"Harry brought the core values to all the kids," said Joe Ganci, who coached with Olsen. "Respect one another, love each other, how important family is, how important it is to be honest. Always do the right things, always be there for one another. The big thing was, respect each other.

"If there's a legacy for Harry Olsen, that's probably it. He's one of the most loving guys you ever met in your life."

A vigil will be held today at 5:30 p.m. at the Land O' Lakes Recreation Senior Field to celebrate the life of Olsen, who was a former Wesley Chapel Athletic Association board member.

Olsen played an integral role in getting a 143-acre park built off Boyette and Overpass roads for the community and for WCCA functions. The project, which cost more than $17 million, opened in 2007.

Thursday morning while working at the JCPenney in the Shops at Wiregrass, Olsen started feeling ill. He told a co-worker, who went to get Olsen some water. When the co-worker returned, Olsen had collapsed.

Olsen, who coached the Wiregrass Ranch High baseball team this summer and remained an assistant, is survived by his wife, Sara, and their three children - Harry Jr., 15; Grace, 13 and Anna, 11.

Funeral arrangements are still being made.

To help the family, the Wiregrass baseball team has renamed its Nov. 14 golf tournament the Harry Olsen Memorial Golf Tournament. All proceeds from the tournament at Tampa Bay Golf and Country Club will go to the Olsen family.

"He's one of a kind," Ganci said. "He's all about those kids."

Reporter Eddie Daniels can be reached at (813) 259-7066.

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Baseball coach Olsen left his mark on all of his players