Lute Olson

Lute Olson

An article I wrote for www.DailySportsUpdate.Net

Longtime Arizona men's basketball coach Lute Olson is reportedly stepping down. He had 25 years at Arizona, and missed the entire 2007-2008 season during a divorce. Lute Olson is now 74. In his 25 years he has a 780-280 career record at Arizona, Iowa, and Long Beach State. His record with the Wildcats was 589-187. This includes a national championship in 1997, four Final Four appearances, 11 Pac-10 titles, and 20 consecutive 20-win seasons. Olson has also won seven Pac-10 Coach of the Year awards.

Olson announced last year he would be returning to Arizona for another year, so his successor Kevin O'Neill left the program and took a job as assistant coach for the NBA's Memphis Grizzlies. Olson made it obvious he wanted to be there another year, but just couldn't do it. He took a leave of absence last year in November and O'Neill took over from that point. Arizona finished seventh in the Pac-10 last year, the worst finish they've had since the 1982-1983 season - the year before Olson was head coach there. Arizona still ran their streak of NCAA appearances to 24, despite missing head coach Lute Olson.

The most likely cause of Lute Olson stepping down is his age and health. When taking a leave of absence for a divorce last year, he also said it was for health reasons too. He is now 74 years of age, and has 25 years of basketball under his belt. While he did enjoy a good run at Arizona, his age is starting to catch up with him.

Vitale says associate coach Mike Dunlap will fill in for Lute Olson as interim coach. Arizona has denied this report. The best bet now is to wait and see.

I give my best wishes to Lute Olson, his family, and his friends. He had a great run as a college basketball coach, and Arizona will miss him dearly this season. The Wildcats will play their first opener on November 17 against Florida Atlantic. This will be their first opener without Lute Olson in the program in two decades, and I wish Arizona and Lute Olson the best.

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