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Home , Ed Stokes, Jim Rosborough, Joseph Blair, Khalid Reeves, Loren Woods, Lute Olson

8-9 Lute 9/26/02 11:58 PM Page 8

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8 Friday, September 27, 2002 How did he get Lucky The legendary coach who turned there the UA 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 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 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 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 ’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 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. • – 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 • – 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 points, the most ever for a Wildcat. • – One of the best to play the guard position at Arizona. Many have followed — Terry, Bibby, Gardner — but all are still compared to him. • – 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.” at the RCA Dome in . – Sophomore guard •Georgetown, 1980. Iowa’s “Fabulous 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 – 35th / Seattle •Kansas, 1997. Considered one of the Eddie Smith – 158th / Denver – 43rd / Phoenix greatest upsets in school history, Arizona “It’s a great honor. He 1988 – 34th / Charlotte 56th / Cleveland beat the No. 1-ranked Jayhawks 85-82 to Steve Kerr – 50th / Phoenix 1998 2nd / Vancouver advance to the Final Four. has really helped the 1989 – 3rd / San Antonio 14th / •North Carolina, 1988. An Olson first program. I can’t be Anthony Cook – 24th / Phoenix 42nd / Orlando at UA. The school’s first-ever Final Four more proud of him.” 1990 – 38th / Seattle 1999 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 – 30th / Dallas 2001 13th / New Jersey •Cincinnati, 1996. Olson gets his Julie Brase, 1993 – 22nd / Cleveland 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 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

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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 , 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, will Top: Lute Olson Whether it was his patented baby enter the Hall of Fame tomor- gives his team , 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 . 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 “Magic.” walks next to fel- low inductee 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 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 , Petrovic proved that the bas- cut short before he could gain the populari- (Left) The ketball world had more to offer America ty he deserved. In 1993, Petrovic was killed than a brief workout. Petrovic won the first in a car accident in Germany. OLSON CONT. FROM PAGE 8 Larry Brown No. 9 on the all-time NBA wins list, and is the only NBA coach when they whizzed by his house to show Normally, when a coach moves to ever earn a playoff spot with their appreciation during all hours of the around a lot it is the sign of an six different NBA teams. In day –– a little too radical for Olson’s liking, unsuccessful career. For Larry 1980, he led the UCLA Bruins to his long-time assistant said. Brown, however, it is the sign of a national championship, and “He was swamped with people all of the discovering talent and victories 20 years later he led the time, even though they were being nice. everywhere he goes. Larry Brown to their first They just wanted to talk to him,” has coached college or profession- NBA Finals since 1982. Perhaps Rosborough said. “I think it got too pres- al basketball for the past 30 sea- more impressive than all his sure-packed and overwhelming for him.” sons. He has had a winning record other achievements, Brown has t was the tranquility of the desert that in 26 of those seasons even while leading actually taught that the four lured him away. A smaller city and a teams such as the and other guys on the court with the same shirts Icrippled basketball program was the . Brown currently resides at as him are his teammates. perfect setting for Olson to seek refuge from the disturbances of the Midwest. But rather than giving up the winning in order to leave only female coach to ever win Photo courtesy of Arizona Basketball gold at the Olympics and the a more peaceful life, Olson simply brought Olson with his 1977 Iowa coaching staff. (From left his ways with him. Kay Yow ranks fifth on the World Championships. Before to right) Head coach Lute Olson, assistant coaches all-time list for wins by a female One of the components of his success was Tony McAndrews, Jim Rosborough, Floyd Theard. women’s basketball gained the his wife, Bobbi. She became the first lady of college coach. At Elon and current popularity it has, Yow Wildcat basketball and accompanied him on assistant coach said. North Carolina State, Yow has remained committed to winning. the recruiting trips. When prospects toured The Wildcats ran off five straight victo- broken into the “W” column 625 She has won two national cham- the Arizona campus, she cooked them break- ries in the post-season but fell short of their times in just 22 seasons. Yow has pionships with N.C. State, and in fast and told them she hoped they would be national championship dream with a 10- always kept her teams in the 1988 she was inducted into the part of the family. She held fundraising point loss to Duke. national spotlight. Teams under Women’s Sports Hall of Fame. Yow have finished in the In 2000, she entered the events, spearheaded numerous charity his year will be no different than the Associated Press Top 20 poll 16 out of 22 sea- Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame. Her induc- drives and attended every Wildcat basket- others. Olson will wear the same sons. She has won coach of the year honors tion tomorrow will complete her legacy as ball game. game-day outfit — the khaki slacks T four times in her storied career and is the one of the finest female coaches of all time. Bobbi died of ovarian cancer in the mid- and blue blazer. dle of the 2001 season after a two-year battle He’ll still have the same silver hairdo and with the disease. The players honored her prowl the sidelines barking orders or take The act, they proved to the bas- by writing her name on their uniforms for his regular seat on the bench next to his long- ketball world that they had the next game, but struggled to maintain time assistant, Rosborough. Plus, his team is Globetrotters talent. Several basketball focus in the following weeks as Olson went back in its common position in preseason experts have said that the In 1927, when the Harlem on a leave of absence. Olson would return to polls — sitting on the top as No. 1. It’s quite Globetrotters induction was Globetrotters became a pro- his familiar post on the UA sideline after five possible he could win his 10th conference a long time coming. Among fessional basketball team, games, and together they played out the sea- title and play deep into his 19th-consecutive them are the Washington many people said they were a son dedicated to Bobbi. The court in McKale post-season appearance. Generals — the team that Center, which was once named Lute Olson joke. Seventy-five years later, And who would against him? So far, lost to the Globetrotters an Court, was changed to Lute and Bobbi Olson they had no idea what an everything along the way has given no one estimated 15,000 times — Court. amazing joke they would reason to. Especially since Olson is now in a who can finally say at least they were beaten “Basketball was so good because it gave turn into. Contrary to popular belief, it was- place he calls home. by a Hall of Fame team, and Scooby-Doo everyone an outlet after the events of his n’t until the early ’40s that the Globetrotters and Shaggy, who never would’ve found all wife. It was therapeutic for everyone and it David Stevenson can be reached at became an “entertainment-first” basketball those ghosts without the help of the made you realize that life is very precious,” [email protected]. team. Before the Globetrotters started mak- Globetrotters. ing their way around the world as a comedy

1993 – Olson wins sixth 1997 – Arizona wins 1999 – Arizona ties with Pac-10 title (NCAA First National Championship, Stanford for Pac-10 title If you watch … Round). topping Kentucky 84-79 in (Olson’s ninth). 1994 – Arizona reaches national final. 2001 – Olson’s fifth 2 p.m. today – ESPN Classic College 7 p.m. today – ESPN Classic Final Four (Olson’s third). 1998 – Arizona wins Final Four (loses to Duke in Basketball 2002 Basketball Pac-10 Champions. Loses Final). eighth Pac-10 title under 1997 NCAA National Championship Hall of Fame Induction to Arkansas in semi-final. Arizona vs. Kentucky Ceremonies - LIVE Olson.