Earlier today I speculated that Dick Vitale’s report this morning that Lute Olson was stepping down as Arizona baskebtall coach might not turn out to be accurate - because Olson would stay on just to spite the ESPNer’s scoop. Well, Vitale was indeed correct, as the ARIZONA DAILY STAR has just confirmed Lute Olson is out as Univ. of Arizona basketball coach.
Excerpt:
Lute Olson will step down as head basketball coach of the Arizona Wildcats, according to the fathers of two top UA recruits who said they were informed by the assistant coaches this morning.
Abdul Gaddy, Sr., father of Top 10 point guard Abdul Gaddy, said Olson’s impending departure was confirmed by assistants Reggie Geary and Mike Dunlap. Meanwhile, Solomon Crawford, father of forward Solomon Hill, said Geary told him the news this morning.
Olson nor the school have issued a statement on the matter just yet. And the UA players haven’t heard anything either. Typical Olson, it’s all about him.
Nice timing. I wonder how many of UA’s new recruits on the team had any idea Olson was leaving? Not to mention the team’s commits for the future. What a complete disaster.
5:14 pm on October 23rd, 2008
Good. Now maybe we can start beating Arizona for once.
5:21 pm on October 23rd, 2008
Gee, Brooks, how do you really feel about Lute Olson?
5:25 pm on October 23rd, 2008
If Vitale was right about this, he has to be right about the Rays winning the Series, right?
5:26 pm on October 23rd, 2008
Nice how Lute is waving bye-bye to the Wildcat.
5:27 pm on October 23rd, 2008
About time he finally left.
5:32 pm on October 23rd, 2008
Dickie V to stick to what he knows and not make baseball predictions. Phillies with the sweep, baybeeee!
6:04 pm on October 23rd, 2008
Coach Olsen has not been the same since his wife died of cancer a few years back. Perhaps retirement may be a good thing.
6:07 pm on October 23rd, 2008
Those UA recruits should have known what they were getting into. I mean, their prospective coach sat out an entire season to deal with divorce problems.
6:59 pm on October 23rd, 2008
I'll miss Lute Olson - especially taunting him during UCLA games.
10:27 pm on October 23rd, 2008
Midnight Lute strikes again.