The Willmar WarHawks are excited to announce Kirk Olimb as the organization’s new head coach. Hailing from Warroad, MN (“Hockeytown, U.S.A.”), Kirk joins the WarHawks as a coach with a wealth of knowledge and experience in nearly all aspects of the game. Prior to coaching in Willmar, Kirk was an assistant coach at the college level for Hamline University. Prior to coaching for the Pipers, Kirk coached at the high school level in the Minnesota 18U High Performance League and also at the youth level, guiding the St. Paul Capitals Bantams to the State Tournament.
In addition to coaching, Kirk worked as a scout and advisor for SmarterHockey, helping players and families navigate the amateur hockey world. This comes on top of practicing law as a personal injury attorney at McEllistrem Fargione, P.A. after graduating summa cum laude from Mitchell Hamline School of Law in 2016. Prior to law school, Kirk graduated from Hamline University magna cum laude in 2013, where he played four years as a Piper on the Men’s Varsity Hockey Team (NCAA Div. III), winning a MIAC Championship in 2011 and being named Academic All-Conference three years in a row (freshman are not eligible). Before attending Hamline, he played three years of Junior A hockey in Canada, winning the 2008 Bill Salonen Cup as SIJHL Champions with the Dryden Ice Dogs. This came after graduating from Warroad High School in 2006, where he was a member of the undefeated 2005 Minnesota State Champion Warroad Warriors. Finally, if Kirk’s last name sounds familiar, that’s because he is the nephew of Warroad’s 1988 Mr. Hockey winner and Gopher great Larry Olimb. Kirk’s clearly unique and decorated past both on and off the ice gives him nearly unmatchable insight into the game and what it takes to make it to the next level, which is something he gladly passes on to all his players.
