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The Cardinal Smiles
Olson's stroke led to depression, doctor says
Coach's retirement came at physician's advice
http://www.tucsoncitizen.com/daily/sports/100943.php
Lute Olson suffered a small stroke within the past year that contributed to recent "severe depression" and "changes in judgment," his doctor said Tuesday.
The 74-year-old University of Arizona basketball coach retired Thursday upon the advice of Dr. Steven A. Knope to step down.
Knope said an MRI done Monday confirmed that Olson "had a stroke in the frontal part of the brain" sometime in the past year. The stroke affected Olson's "executive decision-making and personality."
An irregular heartbeat, which doctors first noticed in Olson about eight years ago, may have led to the stroke, Knope added.
The doctor said he had talked to Olson for several weeks about retiring because the stress was too much for the coach and Olson was not responding to anti-depression medicine.
"He just couldn't put the pieces together," Knope said in a news conference at McKale Center attended by two of Olson's daughters, Jodi Brase and Christi Snyder.
Olson, the doctor added, "knew something was wrong, but couldn't quite put his finger on it.
"Given his personality, here's a guy who was frustrated, but he refused to give up."
Olson is resting at home and is on a blood thinner, Knope said, adding that he's optimistic Olson will recover.
The doctor said Olson went on anti-depression medicine during his leave of absence last season, but went off the drugs in April, "and was doing great." Knope pronounced Olson fit to coach at the time.
The past few weeks, however, Olson resumed treatment with antidepressants, Knope said.
"He simply didn't respond (to the medicine)," Knope said. "And I became concerned that he had a tumor in his frontal lobe, or had suffered a stroke."
The doctor said he then ordered an MRI, which showed a small stroke.
Knope said Olson did not have Parkinson's disease, but revealed that the coach has suffered from an irregular heartbeat for about the last eight years.
"What most likely happened with this stroke is that despite optimal therapy, he most likely had a clot . . . that traveled to his brain," Knope said.
Knope said Olson received "world-class" follow-up from UA cardiologists for the irregular heartbeat, and did not have an occurrence until the last two years.
Olson has not spoken publicly since UA media day early last week.
In that news conference, Olson said he was "energized" and looking forward to his 25th season with Arizona.
"Our hopes and prayers go to Lute Olson and his family for a swift and full recovery," UA athetic director Jim Livengood said in a statement released by UA. "He has meant the world to this university and college basketball for a quarter century. His Hall-of-Fame legacy speaks for itself."
Coach's retirement came at physician's advice
http://www.tucsoncitizen.com/daily/sports/100943.php
Lute Olson suffered a small stroke within the past year that contributed to recent "severe depression" and "changes in judgment," his doctor said Tuesday.
The 74-year-old University of Arizona basketball coach retired Thursday upon the advice of Dr. Steven A. Knope to step down.
Knope said an MRI done Monday confirmed that Olson "had a stroke in the frontal part of the brain" sometime in the past year. The stroke affected Olson's "executive decision-making and personality."
An irregular heartbeat, which doctors first noticed in Olson about eight years ago, may have led to the stroke, Knope added.
The doctor said he had talked to Olson for several weeks about retiring because the stress was too much for the coach and Olson was not responding to anti-depression medicine.
"He just couldn't put the pieces together," Knope said in a news conference at McKale Center attended by two of Olson's daughters, Jodi Brase and Christi Snyder.
Olson, the doctor added, "knew something was wrong, but couldn't quite put his finger on it.
"Given his personality, here's a guy who was frustrated, but he refused to give up."
Olson is resting at home and is on a blood thinner, Knope said, adding that he's optimistic Olson will recover.
The doctor said Olson went on anti-depression medicine during his leave of absence last season, but went off the drugs in April, "and was doing great." Knope pronounced Olson fit to coach at the time.
The past few weeks, however, Olson resumed treatment with antidepressants, Knope said.
"He simply didn't respond (to the medicine)," Knope said. "And I became concerned that he had a tumor in his frontal lobe, or had suffered a stroke."
The doctor said he then ordered an MRI, which showed a small stroke.
Knope said Olson did not have Parkinson's disease, but revealed that the coach has suffered from an irregular heartbeat for about the last eight years.
"What most likely happened with this stroke is that despite optimal therapy, he most likely had a clot . . . that traveled to his brain," Knope said.
Knope said Olson received "world-class" follow-up from UA cardiologists for the irregular heartbeat, and did not have an occurrence until the last two years.
Olson has not spoken publicly since UA media day early last week.
In that news conference, Olson said he was "energized" and looking forward to his 25th season with Arizona.
"Our hopes and prayers go to Lute Olson and his family for a swift and full recovery," UA athetic director Jim Livengood said in a statement released by UA. "He has meant the world to this university and college basketball for a quarter century. His Hall-of-Fame legacy speaks for itself."
