Tanner Olrich (ADVNC SF & NDP '26)

Tanner Olrich is a dynamic midfielder from the ADVNC SF & NDP 2026 team committed to playing at the University of Virginia, starting next Fall.

Tanner started playing lacrosse in first grade alongside a bunch of his friends, led by former Duke All-American Matt Ogelsby and All West Lacrosse. (All West became ADVNC North Bay in 2021).

“Coach Ogelsby preached to us about having Respect, Attitude and Effort,” Tanner recalled. “He would say, if you have those 3 things, you would have success on the lacrosse field, and in life. And I think that still holds true today. But back then, starting out, I really liked the physicality of lacrosse. It was super fast, and there aren’t many parameters to the game. I also really liked playing with my friends. Many of those guys I started out with are still some of my best friends today.”

“It wasn't always clear which sport would capture Tanner's heart. He was a big club soccer player early on and excelled in multiple sports,” said Leslie Olrich. “We think it really came down to the incredible lacrosse coaches and role models that Tanner had, from Ogelsby to Charles Henry, to Skyler Hopkins, BJ Grill, Joe Reid, Tucker Dordevic, Kevin Cooper, Chris Rotelli, Jono Zissi and now Chris Packard and Joe Walters with his high school team at St. Ignatius. We have been so impressed with them all, not just as coaches, but as human beings. So seeing Tanner excel at lacrosse has been great, but the bigger benefit is really seeing who he has become as a person and the incredibly supportive community that he is now part of.”

The Olrich family after winning Sandstorm with ADVNC NDP.

Tanner played club lacrosse for the Outlaws and Coach Hopkins, who he loved, and practiced close to his home in San Francisco, before coming to ADVNC in the 8th grade. “My buddies and I all started with ADVNC at the same time,” Tanner said. “We knew ADVNC had a National Team (NDP) and would help us prepare for the college recruiting process.”

“Tanner’s older brother, Zach, played on the ADVNC NDP 2023 team, so we saw the momentum that ADVNC was building on the West Coast. We felt like that was going to be the right program and platform for Tanner to play for as he ramped up to his recruiting summer,” said Scott Olrich. “I think the move to ADVNC was a great one and lived up to all the promises. Not only because of how they have developed Tanner and his teammates, and how well they performed as a team in the big tournaments back East, but also because of how well-run an organization ADVNC is.”

“Tim O’Brien became my main ADVNC coach,” Tanner said. “The practices were super fun. There was a lot of physicality, and a lot of variety in the drills and training to keep us constantly moving and to keep things fresh.”

Tanner, (#11), with St. Ignatius and ADVNC NDP teammates (L-R): Johan Van Oast, Malcolm Child & Ollie Lyon.

Tanner soon started playing for the ADVNC NDP team as well. “Playing for the NDP was one of the most important parts of my development,” Tanner said. “Having practices with so many great players from all over the West Coast. Guys that are now going to play at places like Michigan, Cornell, Notre Dame and Harvard, and great programs like that. NDP really pushed me to become the best player I could be. It pushes you to go 100% on every rep, knowing the guys around you are all going to be playing at a high level of college lacrosse. It made me realize that I was also good enough to play at the higher level of college lacrosse. Going to tournaments with that NDP team, we knew we could hang with any team in the country on the East Coast.”

“As parents, traveling so much together with our kids and their teammates created the most incredible bond,” Scott Olrich said. “Between my wife and I and our sons, but also between our family and the other ADVNC families. ADVNC really feels like a family, all of us in it together. Everybody chipping in to help wherever needed, and we created this great little traveling community.”

Tanner started thinking about playing in college around the 8th grade, when he made the move over to ADVNC and enrolled in west coast lacrosse powerhouse High School, St Ignatius College Prep. That’s when he began to pursue his dreams with even more determination and fervor.

Going into the Summer of 2024, Tanner relied heavily on ADVNC Founder & CEO Chris Rotelli for advice and support. “Coach Rotelli and ADVNC were a huge help in my recruiting process,” Tanner said. “My dad and I talked with Coach Rotelli before the summer about what I needed to do to show college coaches the best version of myself. He told me that I really wanted to showcase my athleticism and my grittiness as a player. He told me he wanted me to show the college coaches that I can play both ways as a midfielder, and that I can lock someone down on defense, but also push the ball in transition and score offensively. He put me in a position to succeed in those ways on the NDP team. I think that really helped me show the college coaches my versatility, as a player.”

“My wife and I were probably more nervous going into the process than Tanner was,” said Scott Olrich. “We had a ton of confidence in Chris Rotelli, and we knew he held a ton of clout with the college coaches. He doesn’t say things just to say things or push players that he doesn’t think can play at the next level. He is very honest and direct.”

Shortly after September 1st, Tanner was fortunate enough to hear from many of his dream schools and narrowed his list down to five and scheduled a trip to visit all of them. The University of Virginia was the first campus they visited. Tanner was incredibly impressed from the moment he stepped on the Grounds. 

“I didn’t want to choose a school based on playing time or anything like that,” Tanner said. “I wanted to pick a school where I could see myself being the happiest, overall. I thought about choosing the school that I would enjoy the most, even if I get injured and can’t play lacrosse anymore. I really think UVA is a school that has the best balance of everything. It has a great social scene, great academics, and of course an amazing lacrosse program.”

UVA is also Chris Rotelli’s alma mater. He helped the Cavaliers win a National Championship in 2003, and also won the Tewaaraton Award. “But Coach Rotelli did not push me to choose Virginia,” Tanner said. “He really wanted me to take the time to find the place that was the best fit for me. And I decided that was UVA.”

“It meant a lot for Chris Rotelli to really advocate for Tanner with Coach Lars Tiffany and the UVA coaching staff,” said Scott Olrich. “Obviously, Chris was a great player at UVA, so for him to put his neck on the line and tell Coach Tiffany that he really thought Tanner has what it takes to be a Cavalier, means a lot. Tanner said that gives him extra fire to go represent West Coast lacrosse and make Rotelli proud.”

"Tanner knew pretty quickly into his UVA visit that it was where he wanted to be and play, and we feel so fortunate that they extended him an offer,” said Leslie Olrich. “It's where his heart was. That feeling has just been further reinforced since Tanner's commitment over a year ago. The coaches and players have all gone out of their way to already make Tanner, Scott and I feel a part of the UVA family.”

With the process behind him, Tanner has the following advice for young players who aspire to follow in his footsteps. “Spend as much time as possible on the field, and have a stick in your hand every moment of the day, is what I would tell young players who want to excel. Having a group of friends with similarly high athletic ambitions and goals for themselves has helped me become the player I am today. It’s pushed me to work harder, and it’s made it more fun. So I encourage young players to find a group that can push you and support you.”