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8-9 Lute 9/26/02 11:58 PM Page 8 cyan magenta yellow black 8 Arizona Daily Wildcat Friday, September 27, 2002 How did he get Lucky The legendary coach who turned there the UA basketball program into ? a national powerhouse finally A look at the gets his place in the Hall Lute career of a legend The story of Tucson’s leading man Lute Olson Career Record: BY DAVID STEVENSON every minute of the coach and didn’t allow •663-235 (.738) in 29 years overall Staff Writer him a personal life. •471-143 (.767) in 19 years at Arizona So, Lute Olson left it all — his fame, his •167-91 (.647) in nine years at Iowa e needed a change. After a Final gymnasium and his players — to become the •24-2 (.923) in one year at Long Beach St. Four appearance and nine success- new head coach of a non-existent basketball •Pac-10 Championships – 9 (1986, 1988, Hful seasons at the helm, something program in the middle of the desert in 1983. 1989,1990, 1991, 1993, 1994, 1998, 2000) was still missing. He soon found it in The privacy in Tucson allowed Olson the •Final Four Appearances – 5 (1980- Tucson, of all places. chance, at first, to separate his winning ways Iowa, 1988, 1994, 1997, 2001) Off the court He left his statewide celebrity status that and his personal life, but oh, how quickly •National Championships – 1 (1997) didn’t allow him to enjoy a restaurant din- that privacy turned into stardom. •18 straight NCAA Tournament How do you feel about Lute ner without interruption. As a young coach in Iowa, his fishing appearances (second most in Olson being inducted into the He left his new basketball arena, the one trips at his home in Lake Mcbride, Mo., history behind North Carolina’s 26) he led the fundraising for, which was set to turned into celebrity sightings as people Awards/Honors Basketball Hall of Fame? open the next season with an $18.4 million sailed their boats up to Olson’s to offer their congratulations and to talk about the •Big Ten Coach-of-the-Year – 2 — Compiled by Jeff Lund price tag. But the hardest change was leav- (1979, 1981) ing his Iowa Hawkeye basketball team that upcoming season. Fans honked their horns •World Championship Team was ranked No. 3 in the country. Coach – 1986 But the stressful atmosphere demanded See OLSON, Page 9 •Pac-10 Coach-of-the-Year – 6 “It’s (1986, 1988, 1989, 1993, 1994,1998) definitely •Pima County Sports Hall of Fame – 1999 overdue.” •Naismith Memorial Basketball – Monica Hall of Fame – 2002 Armenta, Milestone Wins men’s basketball •Win No. 1 – Dec. 12, 1973 secretary Long Beach State 84 Puget Sound 55 •Win No. 100 – Feb. 3, 1979 Iowa 97 Minnesota 71 •Win No. 200 – Feb. 25, 1984 Arizona 69 Oregon State 58 •Win No. 300 – March 27, 1988 Arizona 70 North Carolina 52 “I think it’s won- (West Regional Final) •Win No. 400 – Feb. 13, 1993 derful that coach Arizona 94 Washington state 72 Olson is being •Win No. 500 – Feb. 11, 1996 recognized Arizona 79 Cincinnati 76 •Win No. 600 – Jan. 8, 2000 appropriately.” Arizona 68 Stanford 65 – Lydia Burch, 5 Best Players Olson’s secretary •Sean Elliot – One of the greatest players of 20 years in the history of Arizona. He is the all-time leader in points, field goals and free throws, just to name a few. •Steve Kerr – One of two players in UA history to have his number retired. Kerr has “He should have gotten had one of the best NBA careers ever for an ex- in a couple years ago, but Arizona athlete. any time you get into the •Khalid Reeves – Even though he never Hall of Fame it’s great.” had the kind of NBA career some expected, he was a great college player. His 1993-1994 was – Senior forward one of the best in UA history. He averaged 24.2 Luke Walton points, the most ever for a Wildcat. •Damon Stoudamire – One of the best to play the point guard position at Arizona. Many have followed — Terry, Bibby, Gardner — but all are still compared to him. •Ronnie Lester – Was an All-American for Olson in the year the Hawkeyes went to the Final Four. “I just have to sit back and 5 Best Wins look at my situation. I am •Kentucky, 1997. After defeating three playing for a Hall of Fame No. 1 teams leading up to this game fifth seeded Arizona won the national title 84-79 in coach – that’s huge.” overtime at the RCA Dome in Indianapolis. – Sophomore guard •Georgetown, 1980. Iowa’s “Fabulous Salim Stoudamire Few” defeated Georgetown 81-80 on a three-point play by Steve Waite with only Lute Olson’s Wildcats in the NBA draft five seconds to go to put Olson’s Hawkeyes 1984 Leon Wood – 10th / Philadelphia 1995 Damon Stoudamire – 7th / Toronto in the Final Four. 1985 Pete Williams – 89th / Denver 1996 Joseph Blair – 35th / Seattle •Kansas, 1997. Considered one of the Eddie Smith – 158th / Denver Ben Davis – 43rd / Phoenix greatest upsets in school history, Arizona “It’s a great honor. He 1988 Tom Tolbert – 34th / Charlotte Reggie Geary 56th / Cleveland beat the No. 1-ranked Jayhawks 85-82 to Steve Kerr – 50th / Phoenix 1998 Mike Bibby 2nd / Vancouver advance to the Final Four. has really helped the 1989 Sean Elliott – 3rd / San Antonio Michael Dickerson 14th / Houston •North Carolina, 1988. An Olson first program. I can’t be Anthony Cook – 24th / Phoenix Miles Simon 42nd / Orlando at UA. The school’s first-ever Final Four more proud of him.” 1990 Jud Buechler – 38th / Seattle 1999 Jason Terry 10th / Atlanta appearance was locked up after this 70-52 1991 Brian Williams – 10th / Orlando A.J. Bramlett 39th / Cleveland victory against the Tar Heels. – Senior guard 1992 Sean Rooks – 30th / Dallas 2001 Richard Jefferson 13th / New Jersey •Cincinnati, 1996. Olson gets his Julie Brase, 1993 Chris Mills – 22nd / Cleveland Gilbert Arenas 31st / Golden State 500th win on a full-court buzzer-beater granddaughter of Ed Stokes – 35th / Miami Michael Wright 39th / New York by Miles Simon. Lute Olson 1994 Khalid Reeves – 12th / Miami Loren Woods 46th / Minnesota – Compiled by Maxx Wolfson and Jeff Lund Lute Olson: 1973 – Begins coaching 1980 – Iowa reaches Arizona – Team finishes first-ever Final Four, career at Long Beach Final Four –– Olson’s 11-17 (eighth in Pac-10). finishing 35-3 (17-1 first A State. Finishes first sea- first. 1986 – Olson gets first in Pac-10). Loses to Timeline son with 24-2 record. 1983 – Last postseason Pac-10 title, finishes 23-9 Oklahoma in semi-final. 1979 – Leads Iowa to appearance with Iowa and reaches first round 1991 – Arizona wins a BY JEFF LUND Big Ten title, and NCAA (Midwest Regional). of NCAA tournament. share of fourth straight Assistant Sports Editor Tournament (First Round). 1983 – First season at 1988 – Arizona reaches Pac-10 title. 8-9 Lute 9/26/02 11:59 PM Page 9 cyan magenta yellow black Friday, September 27, 2002 Arizona Daily Wildcat 9 Keeping company with the very best Tomorrow, the Basketball Hall of Fame will welcome six new members into its family. Joining UA head coach Lute Olson will be five other legends, including players, a coach and an entire team. BY JOSH BOGORAD Staff Writer Earvin ‘Magic’ Johnson Lakers to five World Championships. As a 6-foot-9 point guard, In spite of all his accom- Earvin “Magic” Johnson had the plishments on the court, ability to confuse defenses in a Magic’s biggest win has come way no one else could. Every against the HIV virus. Ten game was a personal highlight years after being diagnosed reel for the “Magic Man.” with HIV, Magic Johnson will Top: Lute Olson Whether it was his patented baby enter the Hall of Fame tomor- gives his team hook shot, behind-the-back pass- row with the virus unde- instructions dur- es that seemed to be generated tectable in his body. It has ing a timeout of from nowhere or his clutch ability whenev- been called a medical miracle and an impos- a game in er the game relied on him, Magic delivered. sible occurrence, yet for anyone who saw McKale Center. Magic was a 12-time All-Star in a 13-year him on or off the court, they simply call it Bottom: Olson career. He helped lead the Los Angeles “Magic.” walks next to fel- low inductee Larry Brown ear- Drazen Petrovic of his two Silver Medals in the lier this summer. 1988 Summer Olympics and Both will be offi- Drazen Petrovic’s impact on once scored an incredible 112 cially enshrined the NBA can be felt now more points in a Croatian League tonight. Olson’s than ever. For the growing num- game in 1985. 10-minute pre- ber of foreign players entering the recorded tape This was enough for the will be played at NBA with success today, Petrovic NBA to take notice, and the ceremony helped pave the way. This Petrovic finally burst into the because he is Croatian superstar pioneered the league with the Portland attending his European movement into the Trailblazers in 1989 and later son’s wedding in NBA. As one of the first played for New Jersey. Italy. European players to reach star status in the Unfortunately, Petrovic’s career would be (Above) File Photo United States, Petrovic proved that the bas- cut short before he could gain the populari- (Left) The Associated Press ketball world had more to offer America ty he deserved.