Lute Olson steps down at Arizona
Sports Network | October 23, 2008
Bristol, CT (Sports Network) - Longtime Arizona men's basketball coach Lute Olson stepped down on Thursday.
ESPN college basketball analyst Dick Vitale first reported earlier Thursday that the 74-year-old Olson, who missed the 2007-08 season while taking a leave of absence during a contentious divorce, would step down after 25 years at Arizona.
Vitale also reported that associate coach Mike Dunlap will take over as interim coach. Arizona athletic director Jim Livengood did not specify who would be taking over the program on either an interim or permanent basis.
"Today is about the past. Tomorrow is about the future," Livengood said at an evening press conference.
The Wildcats are coming off a disappointing campaign in Olson's absence in which they went 19-15, 8-10 in the Pac-10, with former Olson assistant Kevin O'Neill at the helm. Arizona finished in seventh place in the Pac-10 -- it's worst finish since 1982-83, the season before Olson started at Arizona -- but still ran its streak of consecutive NCAA Tournament berths to 24.
Arizona was eliminated in the first round by West Virginia.
Olson made it very clear earlier this year that he was intent on returning to the sideline for Arizona despite missing last season to deal with personal issues. When Olson took the leave of absence last November he did say that there were medical concerns as well, which perhaps played a role in this decision.
O'Neill was designated Olson's successor last season, but that offer was rescinded after Olson announced he was returning. O'Neill, an assistant to Olson for four seasons prior to the 2007-08 campaign and from 1986-89, left the program and took a job as an assistant coach with the NBA's Memphis Grizzlies.
Olson has compiled a 780-280 career record at Arizona, Iowa, and Long Beach State. His 589-187 record with the Wildcats includes the 1997 national championship, 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.
His 27 NCAA Tournament appearances as a coach are one behind Bob Knight for the all-time record, and Olson entered the season second behind Duke's Mike Krzyzewski for most wins among active NCAA Division I men's coaches. Inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 2002, Olson also guided Iowa to the 1980 Final Four.
The Wildcats open this season on November 17 against Florida Atlantic.
