Breaking News
Lute Olson — one of the greatest college basketball coaches of all time — has died, his family confirms. He was 85.
The University of Arizona legend passed away Thursday while in hospice care in Tucson.
Olson led the men’s hoops program for U of A for 25 years — from 1983 to 2008 … bringing home a national championship in 1997.
That team featured future NBA stars like Mike Bibby and Jason Terry.
He was a 7-time PAC-10 Coach of the Year and brought 5 different teams to the Final Four.
And, get this … starting in his 2nd year at Arizona, Olson’s teams made the NCAA tourney in 23 straight seasons!!!
Olson was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 2002 — while he was still coaching! He retired 6 years later.
His record at U of A is insane — 589 wins and only 187 losses.
In the years after his retirement, Olson became a fixture at all Arizona home basketball games and often traveled to road games in California.
On April 12, 2018, The University of Arizona honored Olson with a statue outside the McKale Center on campus.
Some of the stars who played under Olson include … Steve Kerr, Damon Stoudamire, Gilbert Arenas, Richard Jefferson, Luke Walton and Channing Frye.
He also coached Kenny Lofton — who went on to become a big MLB star.
Olson is survived by his wife, children and several grandchildren.
RIP
