Lute Olson Biography
Lute Olson, a native of Mayville, North Dakota, has been a college head coach the last 30 years. He has compiled a 795-259 record coaching at Long Beach City College, Long Beach State, University of Iowa and the University of Arizona. In 1997, Olson led Arizona to the NCAA championship and led the Wildcats to the Final Four in 1988 and 1994, 1997 and 2001. Olson, who is the fifth winningest active Division I coach, holds the distinction of being one of eight coaches in college history to coach in five or more Final Fours and is one of 11 coaches who have taken two different teams to the Final Four (Arizona, 1988, 1994, 1997, 2001; Iowa, 1980). His 24 NCAA Tournament appearances are second most among active coaches and his 42 NCAA wins are second most among active coaches and tied for fourth all time. As head coach at Iowa, Olson led the Hawkeyes to the 1979 Big Ten championship and five consecutive trips to the NCAA Tournament.
Lute Olson became coach at Arizona in 1984 and in 20 seasons has compiled a 499-147 record, including the nation's best winning percentage (.809, 429-101; nearly 27 wins a season) and over the last 16 seasons. He has led Arizona to 16 consecutive 20-win seasons and has compiled 27 winning seasons in 30 years of coaching on the NCAA Division I level. Lute has also led Arizona to nine Pac 10 championships. Under Olson, Arizona's 19 consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances is the longest current streak in college basketball and is second longest in NCAA history. He was named National Coach of the Year in 1988 and 1990. In addition, Olson was the gold medal winning coach for the 1984 Jones Cup and 1986 World Championship teams, the latter of which was the United State's last major international win with collegiate players making up the roster.
Lute Olson was married to the former Roberta (Bobbi) Russell for 47 years, until she passed away on New Year's Day, 2001 due to ovarian cancer. Olson has five grown children - daughters Vicki, Jody and Christi, and sons Greg and Steve - and 14 grandchildren. He is now married to the former Christine Toretti of Indiana, PA, whom he first met at the 2002 Final Four in Atlanta.
Lute Olson Topics
- Teamwork
- Motivation
- Ethics
- Peak Performance
- Blending Talent to Pursue One Goal