Arizona Media Department Says Lute Olson 'Is Still Our Coach'

This morning news broke hard that University of Arizona head coach Lute Olson was stepping down a day after telling the Tucson Citizen he was "excited to get on the court."

After I contacted the Arizona Sports Information Desk and talked to Associate Media Relations Director Richard Paige, this might not be entirely correct.

"No status has changed, Lute Olson is still our coach."

ESPN's Dick Vitale reported that Olson was done but it appears that could be premature. Olson, who is 74, missed practice on Wednesday but according to Paige, was just because he wasn't feeling well, not because of a potential exit stage left.

"He missed practice with the flu," Paige said. "I have not yet seen him (today) but I suspect he's fine."

Talk out of Tucson has been that Olson could be out, but right now nobody is budging on the subject. While Vitale might have inside sources to Lute, no parties on the Arizona side are showing their cards.

This would be the second year in a row that Olson left the team before the season started.