Inside Athletics

Scott Oliver enters his 20th season as head coach of the Siena Heights women’s soccer program. Since taking over the program in 2001, he has led the women to four Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference regular season championships and five WHAC Tournament titles.

 

During the 2017 season, Coach Oliver led the team to a WHAC conference tournament championship. After winning the WHAC tournament, he took Siena to the NAIA National Tournament Opening Round. Following the 4-0 win against Cornerstone on October 12, 2017, Coach Oliver became responsible for over half the wins in Siena Heights women’s soccer program history. 

 

In 19 seasons, Oliver has led the Saints to the NAIA Tournament on six occasions (2002, 2006, 2008, 2009, 2011, 2017). The success of his teams has garnered Oliver accolades of his own. He is a two-time WHAC Coach of the Year (2002, 2009). In 2006, he was the NAIA Region VIII Coach of the Year.

 

Oliver enters the 2020 season with his 250th milestone win insight as he has a career record of 242-109-35 and 119-44-20 mark in the conference. In 2007, he became the winningest women’s soccer coach in SHU history. At the time, he surpassed the previous mark of 87, held by Aldo Zid, whom Oliver played for during his student years at Siena Heights. Oliver currently ranks 9th in wins among all active NAIA coaches and has accumulated the most wins in WHAC women's soccer history.

 

Oliver’s players have received numerous accolades for their efforts on the field. He has coached two NAIA All-America Third Team honorees, 23 NAIA All-America honorable mentions, seven WHAC Players of the Year and 96 All-WHAC players.

 

The success that Oliver breeds on the field is surpassed by the success his teams have accomplished off the field. During his tenure, the Saints have had 78 NAIA Scholar-Athletes and 110 Academic All-WHAC performers (Academic All-WHAC was created in 2004). In 2006, the NAIA created an Academic Team Award, which the Saints have earned nine times. This past year the Saints earned a cumulative year GPA of 3.72, the highest in Coach Oliver's tenure. Six Saints have also been honored with the Thomas Emmet Sr. Award, awarded to the top female junior student-athlete at Siena Heights while four student-athletes have received the Siena Heights Outstanding Student Award. Two graduates have received SHU Alumni awards.

 

Oliver is a past president of the NAIA Women’s Soccer Coaches Association. He has also served as a national tournament committee member and has had two stints as a national rater. Currently he is the National Soccer Coaches Association All-American and Coach of the Year Chair. Oliver is an Assistant Sports Information Director at Siena Heights. He holds two bachelor’s degrees and a master’s degree from Siena Heights. Oliver resides in Blissfield, Mich., with his wife, Vicky