Blake Olmscheid was named head coach of the OUAZ men's and women's tennis programs on June 13, 2022, after spending two seasons as the assistant coach for the Spirit programs.
Since Olmscheid joined the OUAZ staff, the tennis programs have each set program records for wins while building a reputation nationally. This past season saw the Spirit women win their first GSAC championship, earn their first NAIA national ranking, and reach No. 1 in the NCCAA poll. That success led to Olmscheid being named the ITA West Region Assistant Coach of the Year.
The men's program has also reached new levels with Olmscheid on staff. The Spirit received votes in the NAIA Coaches Poll in each of the past two seasons while advancing to the championship match of the 2021 GSAC Tournament.
OUAZ has seen individual accolades over the past two seasons, with Giulia Leali being named the GSAC Player of the Year NAIA Second Team All-American in 2022 and NAIA Honorable Mention All-American in 2021. Johanna Sotelo Mena was the GSAC Freshman of the Year and NAIA Honorable Mention All-American this past season. Austin Todd was awarded the ITA West Region Most Improved Senior, and Liam Spiers was the ITA West Region Rookie of the Year.
Before coming to OUAZ, Olmscheid spent the 2019-20 season as the Interim Head Coach of the men's and women's teams at the University of the Ozarks. That season he coached the ITA South Region Player to Watch Angelo Yasuro Ito Tost. He earned the highest regional singles ranking and first-ever national singles ranking in Ozarks tennis history after advancing to the ITA Southwest Region Singles Finals. Tost was also named American Southwest Conference player of the week and University of the Ozarks Spring Athlete of the Year after going undefeated in the COVID-shortened spring season. Off the court, awards include ASC Scholar-Athlete Medal of Honor Karlee Hart, 12 ITA Scholar-Athletes, and ITA All-Academic Team for Ozarks women.
Olmscheid was the Head Boys and Girls Tennis Coach at his alma mater, Farmington High School (Minn.), from 2017-19. His tenure included coaching five Minnesota Academic All-State teams, 15 SSC All-Conference players, the first-ever Minnesota State Tournament singles qualifier in Farmington Tennis history, and two best individual finishes in Farmington boy's and girl's tennis history.
His coaching experience also includes teaching professionals at Baseline Tennis Center in Minneapolis, Minn., Toscano Tennis Academy in Scottsdale, Ariz., serving as the Director of Tennis for Farmington Parks & Recreation, and coaching at numerous Nike and Adidas Tennis Camps.
Olmscheid earned his bachelor's degree in graphic design at Saint Mary's University in Winona, Minn. He spent four seasons playing tennis at Saint Mary's, where he was a team captain, played No. 1 doubles, and finished his career in the top 10 in program history for doubles wins.
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