Lute Olson

About Lute Olson

Robert Luther "Lute" Olson (born September 22, 1934) is the former men's basketball head coach at the University of Arizona in Tucson, Arizona. He is one of the UA's highest-paid employees, though a substantial percentage of his salary is supplemented by private interests (primarily UA alumni organizations). The 2006–07 season marks his 24th season with Arizona and 34th season at the Division I college level. Olson is known for player development, and many of his former players have gone on to impressive careers in the NBA after playing under him.

Olson was born in Mayville, North Dakota of Norwegian-American parentage, and is a graduate of Augsburg College in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Prior to his tenure with the Arizona Wildcats, Olson coached the University of Iowa and Long Beach State basketball teams. In his first and only season at Long Beach State, he led them to an undefeated conference record and a Big West conference championship. He led Iowa to a Final Four appearance in 1980, losing to eventual NCAA champion Louisville in the National Semifinal. After leading the Hawkeyes to the Sweet Sixteen in 1983, Olson surprised many by leaving Iowa for an Arizona program that was one of the worst in the nation. He said he left Iowa because life there had become a "fishbowl" and he needed a change.

Under Olson, Arizona quickly rose to national prominence. Arizona won its first Pac-10 title in 1986, only three years after his arrival. Two years later, Arizona spent much of the season ranked #1 and made their first (and Olson's second) Final Four. Olson's teams have been perennially ranked since then.