Olivia Woolam enters her second season as a member of the Big Red women’s basketball staff in the 2024-2025 season.
Woolam was part of the Big Red staff that was honored as North Coast Athletic Conference Coaching Staff of the Year in 2023-24. Woolam aided the staff which doubled its win total from a season prior. The 20 wins marked the most for the Big Red a single season since the 2015-16 season. First-year guard
Abby Cooch was named the 2023-24 NCAC Newcomer of the Year. In addition, Cooch was named First-Team All-NCAC while fellow-freshman guard
Ada Taute was named to the All-NCAC Third Team.
In NCAC play, the Big Red were the most efficient behind the arc, shooting .340 (87-of-256) and ranked in the top-four in scoring (66.1 ppg), field-goal percentage (.420; 349-of-831), and assists (14.43 apg). The Denison defense also ranked in the top-four against conference foes in five defensive categories, producing a league-high 68 blocked shots (4.86 bpg), ranking second in opponent field-goal percentage (.346), defensive rebounds (27.2 rpg) and steals (9.29 spg) and fourth in opponent scoring (55.5 ppg). The Big Red earned a 54-48 win over NCAC champion DePauw on Jan. 17.
Woolam joined Denison University after two seasons as the graduate assistant at The College of New Jersey. During her time at TCNJ, the Lions posted a 31-23 record, with appearances in the New Jersey Athletic Conference semifinals both years and a showing in the conference championship in the 2021-2022 season. As the graduate assistant, Woolam was involved in all aspects of the program, including recruiting, scouting, player development, and administrative support.
Prior to TCNJ, Woolam was a four-year member of the women’s basketball program at Grinnell College from 2017-2021. In her senior year, Woolam served as a captain for the Pioneers during the COVID-19 season. She was also the recipient of the Honor G Coaches Award in her senior year in recognition of her contributions to the culture of the Grinnell College Athletic Department.
During the 2020 WNBA season, Woolam served as an intern on the Chicago Sky creative services team. As an intern, Woolam was tasked with social media content creation as well as the construction of a “Family Fun” section of the Sky’s website to increase fan engagement during the COVID-19 season.
A native of Fort Myers, Florida, Woolam graduated from Grinnell in May 2021 with her Bachelor of Arts in Studio Art and English, and earned with her Masters of Arts in English from TCNJ in May 2023.
