UA athletic director Jim Livengood confirmed Lute Olson’s departure from Arizona today, but declined comment on the Wildcats’ future leadership.
“Moments ago, I received confirmation from coach Olson and his advisors that he intends to retire from his position as the head coach of the University of Arizona effective immediately,” Livengood said at a 5 p.m. media gathering outside McKale Center. “At this point in time, today is a day to do nothing other than honor Lute. That’s exactly what we intend to do.”
“You all know this but the legacy of his time here… what he’s meant to Tucson and the U of A, and the entire country, is just immeasurable.”
The father of UA recruit Solomon Hill said UA assistant coach Reggie Geary told him that associate head coach Mike Dunlap would take over on an interim basis but Livengood gave no such detail.
“I do not have a decision at this point in time of who’s going to be head our men’s basketball program," Livengood said. "But that will be announced in the very, very short future and I can assure you that none of you will be held in the dark on that.”
Livengood spoke for less than four minutes and declined to take questions. He quickly walked away, flanked by UA administrators, and declined to respond when asked specifically if Dunlap would be named the Wildcats’ interim head coach.
Livengood also decline to say whether he and Olson were working out a financial settlement. Olson is under contract until 2011.
Olson, who was not present at McKale Center on Wednesday, issued a statement through UA.
This was not a decision that was made lightly," Olson said. "I've had a wonderful run at The University of Arizona. I leave with a great sense of pride in what we have accomplished here.
"At this stage in my life, I want to devote my time to my children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, family and friends. I look forward to watching Wildcat basketball and visiting with my colleagues in the coaching profession. It is time to pass the program on to a younger staff, to transition the university to the next generation of basketball.
"To my family, all of the players who have put on our uniform, our fans in Tucson and all of the great supporters of this basketball program, I offer my heartfelt thanks for your support, and I look forward to reconnecting with each of you," Olson said. "The University of Arizona will always be a basketball school. It will continue to flourish."
PLAYERS TALK - 4:35 p.m.
Lute Olson will step down as head basketball coach of the Arizona Wildcats, UA players said this afternoon.
After a 15-minute team meeting this afternoon, the Wildcats began practice inside their new facility with little to say about Lute Olson’s departure.
“I just know he’s done,” guard Nic Wise said.
UA, however, has not confirmed an Olson exit, but athletic director Jim Livengood is expected to address the media within the hour.
Freshman center Jeff Withey said players were not told the full details of what will happen in the near future.
“We’ll find out in the next couple of days,” Withey said, adding that he couldn’t say more about the team meeting.
The fathers of two committed UA recruits, Abdul Gaddy and Solomon Hill, said they were told by UA assistant coaches Wednesday night that Olson was stepping down and associate head coach Mike Dunlap would replace him on an interim basis.
Dunlap said before UA’s 3:45 p.m. practice that he was unable to comment.
Abdul Gaddy, Sr., father of Top 10 point guard Abdul Gaddy, said Olson’s impending departure was confirmed by assistants Reggie Geary and Mike Dunlap. Meanwhile, Solomon Crawford, father of forward Solomon Hill, said Geary told him the news this morning.
"He just told me it was official — that Lute was out, that (associate head coach Mike) Dunlap was interim," Crawford said.
Citing a “medical condition,” Olson took a season-long leave of absence last season but returned to work in March and said last spring he planned to coach at least until his contract runs out in 2011.
Gaddy Sr. said he has not spoken with Olson, either, and did not know what the future held for his son or the UA coaching staff. Both Gaddy and Hill issued oral commitments to sign a binding letter-of-intent next month to play for the Wildcats next season.
“We’re wondering what’s next,” Gaddy Sr. said. “I know my son is concerned now. I told him that after school, we would come down and decide as a family what to do.”
Gaddy Sr. said his son is “definitely not happy with what’s going on at the university” and would probably re-open his recruitment. He said he has already heard from several schools interested in re-recruiting his son, including Washington, UCLA and other schools.
“They’ve been bombarding me,” Gaddy Sr. said.
In recent practices, Dunlap has been seen running many of the Wildcats drills, though several UA players said during the team’s annual media day this week that Olson had his normal energy level.
Even longtime former assistant coach Josh Pastner, now an assistant at Memphis, said his recent conversations with Olson have been encouraging.
“Every time I’ve talked to him, he’s been great,” Pastner said.
Arizona junior Chase Budinger almost left for the NBA last spring, but returned in part because he was not assured of a first-round draft selection. Chase's father, Duncan Budinger, said today Olson’s return from a leave of absence also influenced his son to come back, though he said Dunlap has been impressive so far. What hasn’t, Budinger indicated: the uncertainty that has plagued the Arizona program since Olson announced last Nov. 4 that he was taking time off.
“Arizona basketball does not need any more drama,” Duncan Budinger said. “It needs to move on. I think they have a great opportunity to have a very successful season.”
Olson’s future has been the subject of speculation since he departed last November, then announced a month later he would be out all season. It then accelerated Wednesday, when Olson uncharacteristically canceled his annual appearance at a Rotary Club luncheon and did not show up for practice.
Olson said Tuesday, during his annual preseason media day, that his voice was ailing because of yelling he had been doing during the first week of practice. But he also said he has been telling recruits that “I don’t think anyone can make promises about their future” when he used to routinely tell them he would be around as long as they were.
Olson is 589-187 over 24 seasons at Arizona, having taken the Wildcats to four Final Fours and winning the NCAA title in 1997. He was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 2002.
