Lute to resign from Arizona?

[dbackjon]

Dickie V is saying so.

Rumors flying around Tucson says Lute is experiencing health issues, and is resigning immediately.

[appfan2008]

no surprise there that man is old and didnt he sit out last year as well???

[Franks Tanks]

He seems to barely be with the team anymore. Once it gets to that point I think you have to step aside.

[appfan2008]

He seems to barely be with the team anymore. Once it gets to that point I think you have to step aside.

aka joepa...

[bandl]

I thought he died. Seriously. :o

[Franks Tanks]

aka joepa...

NO WAY-- JoePa is still involved with the program. He may not be involved in the day to day land game planning as much as some coaches, but he does just as much as Bobby Bowden for example.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jp0H62QrWSs

Check Joe out at practice

[Marcus Garvey]

According the UA basketball beat writers at the Arizona Dail Star, it's all but official:

LUTE OLSON RETIREMENT CONFIRMED (Updated) (http://www.azstarnet.com/sn/hourlyupdate/263822.php)

Sounds about right for Olsen. Wait until the last minute to announce your retirement, but only after running your designated successor off the farm, thus causing all your other assistants to flee for their lives. xsmhx

Olsen won games and ran a clean program (as far as everybody and the NCAA knows), but he's never been known to treat people particularly well. Compared to Bobby Knight however, Olsen was a saint. In his waning days, the public mask he spent decades developing has slipped.

[AZGrizFan]

According the UA basketball beat writers at the Arizona Dail Star, it's all but official:

LUTE OLSON RETIREMENT CONFIRMED (Updated) (http://www.azstarnet.com/sn/hourlyupdate/263822.php)

Sounds about right for Olsen. Wait until the last minute to announce your retirement, but only after running your designated successor off the farm, thus causing all your other assistants to flee for their lives. xsmhx

Olsen won games and ran a clean program (as far as everybody and the NCAA knows), but he's never been known to treat people particularly well. Compared to Bobby Knight however, Olsen was a saint. In his waning days, the public mask he spent decades developing has slipped.

He's a douche of the highest order for what he did to the guy running the program last year.

It'll be enjoyable watching the Herb Sendek-led Sun Devils whoop U of A's sorry ASS for the forseeable future!!! xnodx xnodx xnodx xnodx

[Marcus Garvey]

He's a douche of the highest order for what he did to the guy running the program last year.

It'll be enjoyable watching the Herb Sendek-led Sun Devils whoop U of A's sorry ASS for the forseeable future!!! xnodx xnodx xnodx xnodx

I'm with you there.

[dbackjon]

Olson stepping down; players' families upset

Lute Olson is stepping down as Arizona men's basketball coach, a recruit's father said Thursday.
Solomon Crawford, the father of 2009-10 recruit Solomon Hill, said UA assistant coach Reggie Geary told him that UA associate head coach Mike Dunlap would take over for Olson on an interim basis.

"Reggie gave me a call, and said Lute wasn't going to be there," Crawford said. "I don't know if he is sick. There's been no specific reason (given)."
Crawford's statements lend credence to reports by ESPN analyst Dick Vitale earlier Thursday about Olson's departure.
Officials at the University of Arizona athletic department, however, have not confirmed whether Olson is stepping down. They gathered early Thursday afternoon and planned a meeting with players for later in the day."We don't know (anything)," said junior Jordan Hill, who was preparing for practice at McKale Center.
"Nothing has changed," UA sports information official Richard Paige told the Tucson Citizen on Thursday morning. "Lute is still our coach."
Players' families didn't know what to think, and some parents were upset having learned about Olson's situation on the Internet or from friends.
Debbie Withey, mother of freshman center Jeff Withey, said she received word by text message.
"That's how I find out?" she asked. "The mother of one of the top players. . . . To find out this way is unbelievable.
"I just got done crying to my husband," said Debbie Withey, a local teacher. "I feel totally stupid that we stuck it out (when Olson took a leave of absence last season). And we're the stupid ones. We listened to people.
http://www.tucsoncitizen.com/ss/frontpage/100496.p%20hp

[Marcus Garvey]

Olson stepping down; players' families upset

Lute Olson is stepping down as Arizona men's basketball coach, a recruit's father said Thursday.
Solomon Crawford, the father of 2009-10 recruit Solomon Hill, said UA assistant coach Reggie Geary told him that UA associate head coach Mike Dunlap would take over for Olson on an interim basis.

"Reggie gave me a call, and said Lute wasn't going to be there," Crawford said. "I don't know if he is sick. There's been no specific reason (given)."
Crawford's statements lend credence to reports by ESPN analyst Dick Vitale earlier Thursday about Olson's departure.
Officials at the University of Arizona athletic department, however, have not confirmed whether Olson is stepping down. They gathered early Thursday afternoon and planned a meeting with players for later in the day."We don't know (anything)," said junior Jordan Hill, who was preparing for practice at McKale Center.
"Nothing has changed," UA sports information official Richard Paige told the Tucson Citizen on Thursday morning. "Lute is still our coach."
Players' families didn't know what to think, and some parents were upset having learned about Olson's situation on the Internet or from friends.
Debbie Withey, mother of freshman center Jeff Withey, said she received word by text message.
"That's how I find out?" she asked. "The mother of one of the top players. . . . To find out this way is unbelievable.
"I just got done crying to my husband," said Debbie Withey, a local teacher. "I feel totally stupid that we stuck it out (when Olson took a leave of absence last season). And we're the stupid ones. We listened to people.
http://www.tucsoncitizen.com/ss/frontpage/100496.p%20hp

At this point, he should run over some puppies and maybe steal candy from a baby.

[dbackjon]

At this point, he should run over some puppies and maybe steal candy from a baby.

xlolx xlolx

[proasu89]

At this point, he should run over some puppies and maybe steal candy from a baby.

xnodx These kids (meaning current players, not neccessarily recruits) still have scholarships to the University of Arizona. Players mommies and daddies whine too much. Act like they're supposed to be the first to know everything. :o Whoops, the old coach in me is starting to show.xpeacex

[Marcus Garvey]

xnodx These kids (meaning current players, not neccessarily recruits) still have scholarships to the University of Arizona. Players mommies and daddies whine too much. Act like they're supposed to be the first to know everything. :o Whoops, the old coach in me is starting to show.xpeacex

I disagree. If you took a basketball scholarship to the UofA, it's not to get a degree. Nobody uses that as a means to a degree. If you're that good, and all you want is the degree, you can get in to dozens of schools with much better academics. Trust me, I'm familiar enogh with the school to know this! ;) Let's face it, this is big-time college basketball, degrees are afterthoughts for all involved: Schools, coaches, players, parents, etc...

Anyway, the whole "boo hoo, you got a scholarship still" argument smacks of either elitism (like Silber at Boston U.) or sour grapes.

They took it to play for Lute Olsen. They want to play basketball. A coaching change like this makes things completely uncertain. These kids are 100% correct in being upset about how all of this was handled.

Now we can criticize the manner in which they handle their anger/disspointment. But that's a different topic.

[AZGrizFan]

I disagree. If you took a basketball scholarship to the UofA, it's not to get a degree. Nobody uses that as a means to a degree. If you're that good, and all you want is the degree, you can get in to dozens of schools with much better academics. Trust me, I'm familiar enogh with the school to know this! ;)

They took it to play for Lute Olsen. They want to play basketball. A coaching change like this makes things completely uncertain. These kids are 100% correct in being upset about how all of this was handled.

Now we can criticize the manner in which they handle their anger/disspointment. But that's a different topic.

So, you think every kid who gets recruited by Lute Olsen thinks he's good enough to play in the NBA?

[Marcus Garvey]

So, you think every kid who gets recruited by Lute Olsen thinks he's good enough to play in the NBA?

Actually, they probably do, even though most are not. But they're a *****-load better than probably 80% of basketball players in DI. A lot of those guys wind up playing professionally in leagues other than the NBA. My point is, they're not there for a degree from UofA, so let's all can the hypocrisy.

[AZGrizFan]

Actually, they probably do, even though most are not. But they're a *****-load better than probably 80% of basketball players in DI. A lot of those guys wind up playing professionally in leagues other than the NBA. My point is, they're not there for a degree from UofA, so let's all can the hypocrisy.

I suppose you're right. After all, it's not NAU. The bulk of student-athletes (and I use that term loosely) take the scholarship to get a free education, without misguided dreams of being a professional athlete. If my child were to get a scholarship somewhere I wouldn't really care WHERE it was. They're going. xnodx xnodx xnodx xnodx

[Marcus Garvey]

I suppose you're right. After all, it's not NAU. The bulk of student-athletes (and I use that term loosely) take the scholarship to get a free education, without misguided dreams of being a professional athlete. If my child were to get a scholarship somewhere I wouldn't really care WHERE it was. They're going. xnodx xnodx xnodx xnodx

Good point.
But still, if you get the scholarship, wouldn't you rather play if you're good enough to make the starting lineup? Busting balls in practice everyday to ride the bench during games sucks, no matter what level you're at. So, a player who had a good shot at starting suddenly has no idea where he stands when there's a coaching change. Look at what happened at SMU: Their all-conference QB from last year was run off the team by June Jones because Jones didn't think he'd work for his system.

[proasu89]

Marcus, I do agree that these kids accepted schollies under the impression that Lute would be their coach. Given his recent history, I do think these kids and parents should have been prepared for this possibility. AND, I will admit that it seems rather selfish for him to wait until now to announce his retirement. My point was to highlight the parents who feel that Lute himself should have told each one of them individually his plans. Just the sense of entitlement that got me.

[Marcus Garvey]

Marcus, I do agree that these kids accepted schollies under the impression that Lute would be their coach. Given his recent history, I do think these kids and parents should have been prepared for this possibility. AND, I will admit that it seems rather selfish for him to wait until now to announce his retirement. My point was to highlight the parents who feel that Lute himself should have told each one of them individually his plans. Just the sense of entitlement that got me.

I see your point, but I will counter it.
There's only like 12 players on the roster and a few recruits. Each one of them was likely contacted personally by Olsen during the recruiting process, and that would have been a signifcant factor in their decision to go there.

If Lute Olsen was physically capable of personally informing them of his decision, then he has a moral obligation to do so. So the parents are right, but they ought to tone down the whineyness of their arguments.

[AZGrizFan]

Good point.
But still, if you get the scholarship, wouldn't you rather play if you're good enough to make the starting lineup? Busting balls in practice everyday to ride the bench during games sucks, no matter what level you're at. So, a player who had a good shot at starting suddenly has no idea where he stands when there's a coaching change. Look at what happened at SMU: Their all-conference QB from last year was run off the team by June Jones because Jones didn't think he'd work for his system.

Any of these kids recruited by Lute could contact just about any program in the country and have a good chance of being a 2-3 year starter. They'll be just fine...

[Marcus Garvey]

Any of these kids recruited by Lute could contact just about any program in the country and have a good chance of being a 2-3 year starter. They'll be just fine...

Assuming they have 2-3 years of eligibility left, and assuming they want to play at "any" program. These guys are good enough to play for a Top 25 program, hence why they're at UofA. But the other "Top" programs have their players and recruits and whatnot set. There's unlikely room for them at those schools.

That's what sucks about this for them. Hey, life's unfair, I agree. But I see no need to trivialize their situation.

[andy7171]

Phil Albert resigned as the Towson(State) HC just after my RS Sophomore year. Before the press conference, we had a team meeting and he told us before he told anyone else. I would hope that Lute did that. I don't understand why the parents are upset of not being told personally.

[Marcus Garvey]

Phil Albert resigned as the Towson(State) HC just after my RS Sophomore year. Before the press conference, we had a team meeting and he told us before he told anyone else. I would hope that Lute did that. I don't understand why the parents are upset of not being told personally.

They probably got too used to the ass-kissing when their sons were recruited. If they're playing at UofA, you can bet they probably got visits from Tom Izzo, Bob Huggins, Roy Williams, Bill Self, Jim Calhoun, Ben Howland, etc...

The players deserve to hear it from Lute Olsen himself. The parents, not so much...

[andy7171]

They probably got too used to the ass-kissing when their sons were recruited. If they're playing at UofA, you can bet they probably got visits from Tom Izzo, Bob Huggins, Roy Williams, Bill Self, Jim Calhoun, Ben Howland, etc...

The players deserve to hear it from Lute Olsen himself. The parents, not so much...
Agreed. xthumbsupx

[proasu89]

They probably got too used to the ass-kissing when their sons were recruited. If they're playing at UofA, you can bet they probably got visits from Tom Izzo, Bob Huggins, Roy Williams, Bill Self, Jim Calhoun, Ben Howland, etc...

The players deserve to hear it from Lute Olsen himself. The parents, not so much...

Absolutely.xthumbsupx

[dbackjon]

TUCSON, Ariz. (AP)—Arizona selects Russ Pennell as the interim replacement for retired coach Lute Olson.

The 47-year-old Pennell is a former assistant to Rob Evans at Arizona State and served last year as a Sun Devils radio analyst.

The university turned to Pennell, who has never been a college head coach, after failing to reach an agreement with Olson’s top assistant, Mike Dunlap.

Dunlap will remain on the staff as an assistant, along with Reggie Geary.

The announcement comes one day after the 74-year-old Olson stepped down after 24 seasons with the Wildcats

[Marcus Garvey]

TUCSON, Ariz. (AP)—Arizona selects Russ Pennell as the interim replacement for retired coach Lute Olson.

The 47-year-old Pennell is a former assistant to Rob Evans at Arizona State and served last year as a Sun Devils radio analyst.

The university turned to Pennell, who has never been a college head coach, after failing to reach an agreement with Olson’s top assistant, Mike Dunlap.

Dunlap will remain on the staff as an assistant, along with Reggie Geary.

The announcement comes one day after the 74-year-old Olson stepped down after 24 seasons with the Wildcats

There was speculation that Dunlap wouldn't take it. It stands to reason that he was not going to be considered for the job permenantly after this season, so why should he take the risk of putting a blotch on his resume?