Olson to resign as coach at Arizona

Oct 23, 2008 - 6:24 PM BRISTOL, Connecticut (Ticker) -- The Lute Olson soap opera at Arizona apparently has run its course.

The Hall of Fame coach is set to announce his resignation, according to a report by ESPN on Thursday.

"We have nothing to announce at this time," a spokesman in the Arizona athletic department told PA SportsTicker.

ESPN also reported associate coach Mike Dunlap would be named interim head coach.

Olson missed a practice Wednesday and an appearance at a local Rotary club for health-related reasons, the Arizona Daily Star reported.

Olson's decision to walk away will end a 25-year tenure with the Wildcats, whom he built into one of the nation's elite programs. He owns a 589-188 record with the Wildcats.

Olson has a career record of 780-280 at Long Beach State, Iowa and Arizona. He guided Arizona to the 1997 national title.

Under Olson, the Wildcats have made 24 straight NCAA Tournament appearances, the longest streak in the nation. Last season, the Wildcats went just 19-15 and finished seventh in the Pac-10 Conference - their worst showing since 1982--83, the year before Olson arrived from Iowa.

The end for Olson in the desert also would come after the 74-year-old missed last season after taking an undisclosed leave for undisclosed reasons. The school had said Olson's leave was not for health reasons.

In April, Olson said he was "energized" and looking forward to this season.

When Olson stepped away last November, a chaotic chain of events started with the proud program.

Assistant Kevin O'Neill, who took over as interim coach, was designated as Olson's successor. However, O'Neill and fellow assistants Miles Simon and Josh Pastner left the program upon Olson's return in April.

In December, Olson filed for divorce from his second wife on the same day he extended his leave from the program throughout the season. Just five months after the divorce was finalized, Olson announced he again was engaged.

The university also reported a possible recruiting violation by Olson last month.