Olson to step down as Arizona coach


Published/Last Modified on Thursday, October 23, 2008 12:19 PM MDT


ESPN.com is reporting Arizona's Lute Olson is stepping down as the school's men's basketball coach and 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.

"We're not making any announcement to that effect," Duddleston said. "At this moment there is nothing going on."

Olson is returning to the Arizona program after taking a year-long leave of absence, which the school said was not taken for health reasons.

An ESPN.com reporter was at Monday's Arizona practice in Tucson and Olson was coaching on the floor and in good spirits.

Calls to Olson and Arizona athletic director Jim Livengood weren't returned Thursday morning.

Olson has a career record of 780-280 at Long Beach State, Iowa and Arizona. He's 589-188 since heading to Arizona for the start of the 1983 season.

Arizona won the 1997 NCAA national title. His 27 NCAA Tournament appearances as a coach are one behind Bob Knight for the all-time record. His streak of 24 straight tournament appearances between 1985-2008 is second all-time to North Carolina's 27 (between 1975 and 2001).

Entering the season, Olson was second behind Mike Krzyzewski of Duke for most wins among active NCAA Division I men's coaches. He was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 2002.

Comments

Write a Comment

Comment posters are responsible for the opinions they express and the accuracy of the information they provide. We urge comment writers to treat this as a public forum where manners matter. We encourage a collegial, non-insulting tone. All readers comments must be approved by our staff before posting to the Web site. They review submitted comments periodically during the day for offensive or off-topic content before posting. Be aware, in accordance with the Communications Decency Act and provisions upheld in judicial appeal, that you are responsible for comments posted on this Web site. The Douglas Dispatch is not liable for messages from third parties.

DO NOT POST:
* Potentially libelous statements or damaging innuendo.
* Obscene, explicit, or racist language.
* Personal attacks, insults or threats.
* The use of another person's real name to disguise your identity.
* Comments unrelated to the story.
* Personal Information (phone numbers, addresses, etc.)

Opinions, advice and all other information expressed in douglasdispatch.com's reader comments represent the individual's own views and not necessarily those of the Douglas Dispatch. The Douglas Dispatch does not endorse and is not responsible for statements, advice or opinions offered by anyone other than authorized Douglas Dispatch spokespersons.

Your thoughtful contribution to the online discussion is appreciated.

(optional)
   









Contact Us

Email the Editor
530 11th Street (85607)
P.O. Drawer H
Douglas, AZ 85608
tel: 520.364.3424
fax: 520.364.6750