Last season Arizona Wildcats coach Lute Olson took a year off from the team. While an official reason for for his leave of absence was never given, the school did say that it had nothing to do with health reasons, and then a few days later we found out Olson had filed for divorce from his wife.
Well it looks like Olson enjoyed that year off, because he missed practice on Wednesday and skipped an appearance at a local Rotary Club event as well. The school said Lute was just sick and has laryngitis, but according to ESPN’s Dick Vitale, that isn’t the case. He says that Olson is just stepping down as coach.
From ESPN:
Arizona’s Lute Olson is stepping down as the school’s men’s basketball coach, a source has told ESPN’s Dick Vitale.
Associate coach Mike Dunlap will take over the head coaching duties on an interim basis.
Arizona spokesperson Tom Duddleston said Thursday morning that Olson hasn’t informed the administration that he is resigning. Duddleston said he went to his superiors and was told, “no way,” in response to the report.
So Vitale says Lute is resigning, but the school says he isn’t. I’m inclined to believe Vitale because it wouldn’t shock me at all to find out Vitale talked to Olson on the phone personally, and Lute just hasn’t told the school yet. Of course, there’s also a possibility that Dickie V. is just upset after the Tampa Bay Rays lost Game 1 of the World Series last night, and he’s just making up stories to help himself get over it.
Though I think it’s more likely Vitale is telling the truth. He wouldn’t lie to us, baby!
1:04 pm on October 23rd, 2008
If Vitale is right, what a loss for the UofA and college basketball. He truly is a Tucson icon and will greatly be missed by the community. How do I know these things as a Utahn? Well, let's just say that an LDS mission in Tucson opened me up to that wondrous community.
1:08 pm on October 23rd, 2008
Brad:
Sure you don't work for the Tucson Convention & Visitors Bureau?
Only kidding with ya!
1:10 pm on October 23rd, 2008
What's the big deal? It's not as if he was around at all last season.
1:16 pm on October 23rd, 2008
Good thing Fox Sports didn't pick up on this story first, or ESPN would be ignoring it.
1:17 pm on October 23rd, 2008
I would call Dick Vitale obnoxious, tiresome, annoying and a Duke ass-kisser to the nth degree - but never a liar.
1:21 pm on October 23rd, 2008
Next stop for Lute - Bristol, Connecticut, as an ESPN analyst? Isn't that where all old college basketball coaches go anyway?
1:26 pm on October 23rd, 2008
At least Lute will get to spend more time with his latest lady love:
http://www.sportsbybrooks.com/lute-olson-engaged-for-3rd-time-20325
1:33 pm on October 23rd, 2008
With Stabler and now Olson, white-haired-sports-figure-making-news trifecta is now in play.
1:37 pm on October 23rd, 2008
SC, this is a big deal. Lute's been with Arizona for the past 25 years. You don't spend a quarter century with a school then just blow off his suppoed resignation with a "meh".
1:40 pm on October 23rd, 2008
If it really was Vitale reporting this, it would sound something like this:
LUTE OLSON IS STEPPING DOWN, BABY! RETIREMENT CITY! NO MORE DIAPER DANDIES FOR LUTE TO CHANGE, BABY!
2:57 pm on October 23rd, 2008
I don't know which senile clown to trust on this one…. Vitale is known more for his catch phrases than his journalism.
parody ripping Vitale and ESPN: http://tinyurl.com/5zrt8n
4:41 pm on October 23rd, 2008
Mr. Olson has put in 25 years and as a result gets a much bigger check from Arizona State Retirement. He sat out his 25th year but was still on the payroll and as a result qualified due to 25 years of service.
4:57 pm on October 23rd, 2008
So it's all about the Benjamins.