Top Assistant Olsson Replaces Clark as Boys’ Basketball Coach at Saugus High

Saugus High boys’ basketball assistant coach Eric Olsson has been promoted to head coach, replacing John Clark, who resigned after last season.

Olsson, 32, has been a Saugus basketball coach for seven years and Clark’s top assistant for the past two.

Olsson, a science teacher at Saugus since 1985, coached the school’s freshman team for three years and the junior varsity for two before joining the varsity.

“It’s been kind of a dream of mine. This is a job I’ve always wanted,” Olsson said. “It’s a good environment and I think we’re going to have some pretty good players for the next few years.

“We’ve got a lot of stability in the program and it’s going to stay that way.”

Clark, who led the Centurions to a Southern Section championship in 1987 and the Division I-A semifinals in 1991, announced his retirement before the start of last season.

Clark recommended Olsson for the job to school administrators.

“He deserves it,” Clark said.

Olsson attended Liberty High in San Jose and graduated from The Master’s College in 1981.

Olsson led Saugus’ freshman team to a Golden League championship in 1989.