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Ole Odney is a name that has been practically synonymous with Augustana athletics since the start of his playing days in 1928. Competing at 144 pounds "which probably included the uniform and pads," Ole gained recognition early with his dazzling ball carrying and passing ability. He was captain of the 1931 team, "Lefty Olson's first Viking squad.
During his four years at Augie, Odney also won letters in basketball and track and it was basketball which eventually had the strongest lure for him. After short stints as coach at South Shore and Astoria, he moved to Mayville, N.D. where his prep cage teams won two state crowns in eight years. Moving to Mayville Teachers Ole won a conference title and was second once before he returned to Augustana as head coach in 1948.
His coaching achievements, with perhaps the conference's most undermanned square year after year, are legion. Always regarded as one of the NCC's most astute tacticians, Ole's crowning achievement came in winning the 1961-62 cage crown with the Vikings. He remained at Augustana as an associate professor of physical education and head tennis coach.
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