University of San Francisco Athletics

David Olerich was born on November 14, 1944, in Elmhurst, IL, and attended Menlo-Atherton High School, where he lettered in football, basketball, baseball and golf. His senior year, he was named Defensive Player of the Year, in the South Peninsula Athletic League. 
 
His basketball coach, Bill Loftus, helped him secure a basketball scholarship for USF, and after playing one season, he switched to football his sophomore year. Olerich played football for the Dons from 1963 to 1965. He also played golf for four seasons at USF.
 
After graduation he played one semi-pro season with the San Jose Apaches coached by Bill Walsh, and then ran into John Brodie of the 49ers when home on leave from the United States Army Reserves. Brodie helped Olerich get a try-out and in 1967 he signed as a free agent. 
 
At 6’ 1”, 200 lbs, Olerich played tight end, filled in as a linebacker, and was on the special teams. He was quick, tough, and driven, and had the advantage of being able to play a variety of positions. Olerich played with the San Francisco 49ers in 1967, for one season. He then joined the Saint Louis Cardinals from 1969 to 1970, the Houston Oilers in 1971, and then returned to the 49ers from 1972-1973. In 1975, he joined the World Football League for two seasons as he played for the Hawaiians. Throughout his pro career, he played rugby in the off-seasons.
 
In 2005, Olerich said to the East Bay Times: “Timing is everything. I’ve been fortunate. I never got hurt really bad. I have a lot of respect for the game.” He noted that so many players were unable to play in the NFL due to circumstances beyond their control, but he got lucky. “I kind of backed into this. All the odds were against me. I am humbled by it.” 

After his football career, he worked in the real estate business on the Peninsula. Olerich was inducted into the US Fall of Fame in 1990, and San Mateo County Sports Hall of Fame in 2005.