ESPN's Dick Vitale is reporting that Arizona Wildcats' head coach Lute Olson is stepping down. This comes a day after he uncharacteristically missed an appearance at a Rotary Club of Tucson luncheon due to laryngitis. Olson's likely replacement as head coach, Mike Dunlap, took over at the luncheon.It isn't yet known why Olson is abruptly retiring, though the speculation is his health (UPDATE: Vitale is reporting this on ESPNews, though he said that they may not be the reason given to the public during an upcoming news conference).
Still, it comes as a shock as just last week, Olson told the Arizona Republic that he was excited about the upcoming season.
Olson took a leave of absence for the entire 2007-2008 season to deal with an illness and family matters (he filed for divorce from his second wife a month after taking the leave). Kevin O'Neill took over as the interim coach and led the Wildcats to the NCAA Tournament. Olson came back to his post in the spring and promptly dumped O'Neill.
Olson has a lifetime record of 781-280 while at Long Beach State, Iowa and Arizona. He has won 11 Pac-10 regular season championships and made 28 NCAA Tournament appearances. He has taken Arizona to 24 consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances, second longest streak all-time and led Arizona to the 1997 NCAA Championship.
Only Mike Krzyzewski has more victories among active coaches.
