Lute is taking a leave of absence

[Dback Jon]

Lute is just ducking NAU...

 

[Gaddabout]

Lute is just ducking NAU...

Heh. That was a good one, Jon.

 

[Lefty]

Lute is just ducking NAU...

Actually, asu is ducking NAU. They don't like losing to them every year and being #3 in the state, so they are not playing them anymore.

 

[Black Jesus]

I heard Lute Olson is tending to his daughter who is in her thirties who is having problems. In that case, god bless him for having his priorities in line... however, regarding his own health, he is getting really old.

 

[MaoTosiFanClub]

I heard Lute Olson is tending to his daughter who is in her thirties who is having problems. In that case, god bless him for having his priorities in line... however, regarding his own health, he is getting really old.

Can we get this deleted please? No need to spread unsubstantiated rumors especially serious ones like this.

 

[Dback Jon]

Can we get this deleted please? No need to spread unsubstantiated rumors especially serious ones like this.

Personally, I don't think anything is wrong with that post. He is not being negative, just passing on information in a format that lets you know it is a rumor. Like it or not, Lute is a very public figure, and as such, rumors as to his absence are not off limits, IMO. As long as Lute is gone without saying anything, the speculation will continue.

I did edit the reason for tending to his daughter out.

 

[abomb]

Personally, I don't think anything is wrong with that post. He is not being negative, just passing on information in a format that lets you know it is a rumor. Like it or not, Lute is a very public figure, and as such, rumors as to his absence are not off limits, IMO. As long as Lute is gone without saying anything, the speculation will continue.

I did edit the reason for tending to his daughter out.

 

[Black Jesus]

Most on campus are aware of the reason. This isn't really a quiet mystery anymore.

 

[Lefty]

Welcome back Lute!!!
http://www.tucsoncitizen.com/ss/frontpage/69878.php

 

[Renz]

Good news!

 

[Black Jesus]

yeah... the recruits came here to play for him... not O'Neil

 

[AZBALLER]

I feel bad for the cat. I have great respect on the court for Olsen, but obviously his day has come and gone...The cat has done his job, better than anyone could have done. Kind of like Reagan, it's time for him to move on after a job well done.

 

[MaoTosiFanClub]

It's as simple as this - if Lute is not going to put 100% of himself into the program then he needs to step down and let Kevin O'Neill see what he can do this year and probably next and depending how things go decide the future of the program from there. KO knows what he's doing, it's not like Josh Pastner or Jim Rosborough is running the show much to Livengood's chagrin.

Getting only part of Lute's attention was a primary cause of the problems that plagued the basketball program recently so if that's the only way he can proceed due to his family issues then there needs to be a change. As blasphemous as it sounds that's how I feel. Best case scenario - Lute comes back full force and joins up with KO to create one of the best coaching staffs in the country.

 

[Lefty]

Lute is taking the year off. Says he will return next year.
http://msn.foxsports.com/cbk/story/7534918

 

[Dback Jon]

Probably just as well to take the entire season off.

 

[Lefty]

Here is the press release:

Lute Olson Extends Leave of Absence for the Remainder of the Basketball Season
December 6, 2007

Tucson, Ariz. –University of Arizona Head Basketball Coach Lute Olson today announced that he intends to extend his leave of absence through the end of the current basketball season. Coach Olson cited personal family matters that required his attention.

Said Olson: “After consultation with my family, I have decided to extend my leave of absence for the remainder of the current basketball season. I do this with great reluctance, because I care greatly about the University of Arizona, the basketball program and the players on this team. But there are personal issues within my family that need to be addressed, and I must devote my full energy to that.

“I plan to return to coach at The University of Arizona next year. In the meantime, my heart will be with the team, the coaches and staff. Our student athletes are in great hands, and I wish for them nothing but success with the remainder of the season.

“To our basketball fans and the community, I ask your patience in allowing me the time to attend to my personal situation. I am most grateful for the statements of support and prayers that have been offered, and look forward to a return to more normal activities in the months ahead.

“Thank you again for your support and understanding.”

In response to Coach Olson’s announcement, UA Athletic Director Jim Livengood said: “All of us at the University of Arizona want what is best for Lute and his family. He has brought immeasurable good to our program and the University, and we want him to know that we are supportive and wish him nothing but the best as he tends to these issues.”

Livengood announced that Kevin O’Neill will serve as head coach for the remainder of the season. “Kevin has done an absolutely superb job stepping in for Lute,” said Livengood. “We have enormous confidence in his ability to lead the team in Lute’s absence.”

“I have spoken to the team, and they fully understand Lute’s decision,” said O’Neill. “We have some great student athletes on this team. It has been a challenge for them to deal with the uncertainty surrounding all this. But they have handled it with extraordinary grace, and are fully focused on the season ahead.”

Olson has been the head coach at UA for 24 years, and in that time led the Wildcats to the 1997 national championship, four Final Four appearances, 23 consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances, and 11 Pacific-10 Conference titles. Olson has the nation’s third-best winning percentage over the past 20 seasons, and he is one of just 25 head coaches in NCAA history to win 700 or more games. He owns a career record 780-280.

O’Neill returned to the Wildcat program in May of this year, after spending the last seven seasons in the NBA as a head coach, assistant and consultant. He served as an assistant coach at UA from 1986 to 1989, and has been head coach at a number of universities, including Marquette, Tennessee and Northwestern.

The Wildcats play Saturday on the road against the University of Illinois and return home on December 16 against Fresno State.

 

[Renz]

Sort of shocking, but I think Lute will come back next season, energized. Like Mao said, thankfully we have O'Neill running the team this season instead of Rosborough.

 

[Mulli]

So what do people think the "family situation" is?

 

[Russ Smith]

Greg Hansen on AZ Starnet predicted Lute won't be coming back he said the school says he is but he thinks they're actually just planning an "exit strategy."

Whatever the case I hope Lute is allowed to go out on his own terms he's been a hell of a coach and a very classy guy so I hope the school treats him well with this and I'm pretty sure they will they have to realize what a remarkable job Lute did at Arizona.

If he comes back or not won't have any impact on the perception of his career IMHO.

 

[MaoTosiFanClub]

Greg Hansen knows what Lute is going to do? That's rich considering those two have essentially no relationship. The beat writer for the Daily Wildcat probably has better insight into the program now that Hansen's 125k tennis buddy Roz got rightfully demoted. If only Lute was completely underwhelming over his entire career like Mike Stoops, Dick Tomey, and Jim Rosborough then he'd get the honor of being the subject of one of the Greg Hansen's fluff pieces that he consistently wrote about those guys.

That being said, I think it's very possible Lute does retire should O'Neill get things straightened out this year. Lute's competitive fire is still there, but it has become fairly obvious that he's not willing to do the 24/7 grind that major college hoops requires.

And for those curious ASU fans, if you connect the dots you could probably figure out what the family situation is.

 

[Lefty]

Lute has filed for divorce. I bet he will be back next year.
http://www.tucsoncitizen.com/ss/frontpage/70933.php

 

[Dback Jon]

Lute has filed for divorce. I bet he will be back next year.
http://www.tucsoncitizen.com/ss/frontpage/70933.php

Didn't see that coming...

 

[abomb]

Lute has filed for divorce. I bet he will be back next year.
http://www.tucsoncitizen.com/ss/frontpage/70933.php

Sack it up Lute. You dont have any small kids or anything.

 

[DWKB]

First UofA commit to reopen recruiting will be?


A) Jennings
B) Withey
C) None

 

[green machine]

Lute has filed for divorce. I bet he will be back next year.
http://www.tucsoncitizen.com/ss/frontpage/70933.php

I don't want him back.

Let the program move on, it has to happen sometime, and it's not fair to the team or the school to be on this roller coaster ride.