Jan Olesinski is a multi-faceted coach who’s been with NMMI for 30 years.

He arrived at the Institute in 1987 as the pentathlon coach, and since then has coached cross country, both high school and college; swimming; track and field; and fencing.

A native of Katowice, Poland, Olesinski has a bachelor’s and master’s in physical education, from the Jerzy Kukuczka Academy of Physical Education in Katowice and excelled as an athlete in the sports he now coaches.

He was a two-time pentathlon Olympian for Poland in 1980 (in Moscow) and 1984 (Los Angeles, where the Soviet-bloc countries did not compete); on the World Champion Polish pentathlon team in 1981; and the first Polish triathlon champion in 1984.

While pentathlon and fencing have always been club sports at NMMI, Olesinski began coaching NMAA sanctioned Colt cross country and swimming in 1992; has coached Colt track on and off since 2002; and has been the head coach of NJCAA Bronco women’s cross country since 2007.

Besides his work at NMMI, Olesinski has organized the NMMI Pentathlon Competition since 1989; coached the Caprock Swimming Club since 1990; instructed at the Roswell Fencing Club since 2000; served as the Bottomless Lakes Triathlon race director since 1996; was the camp director of the Pentathlon Olympic Development Clinic in 1988-2000, 2005, 2007; and the U.S. Junior Olympic triathlon coach from 1992-1999.

As a coach, he was named the Pentathlon Development Coach of the Year in 1997 and 1998; selected as an alternate coach for the U.S. Modern Pentathlon Olympic team in 1992; was a member of the USAT National Coaching Committee from 1997 to 2002; the chairman of USMPA coaching committee in 1999; and appointed to the New Mexico Recreational Trails Advisory Board by Governor Bill Richardson in 2004

He is married to Colt girls basketball coach Marisha Olesinski and has three children. Marek played basketball for Roswell High and the Air Force Academy; Anna was a cross-country and track runner for Roswell High and a national junior pentathlete who attend the Air Force Academy and runs track and cross country; Alex Olesinski played for Roswell High and La Lumiere School (Ind.) and now is a member of the UCLA Bruins basketball team.

Prominent Pupils

Mary Beth Larsen (NMMI): Two-time U.S. Olympian in pentathlon