Lute Olson's career to be celebrated on Aug. 8

Try to picture Arizona basketball before Lute Olson came to town. It’s darn near impossible.

There was no enthusiasm, no energy and — most importantly — very little winning.

It wouldn’t even be accurate to call Arizona basketball an afterthought, given that it wasn’t even being thought about in the first place.

Olson’s quarter century as Wildcat head coach changed everything. The team became one of the elite programs in the nation and a fixture in the NCAA Tournament — 26 straight trips and counting.

In addition to his success as a coach, Olson became the area’s most recognized non-profit and charity contributor, forever altering Southern Arizona for the better.

On Saturday, Aug. 8., the community will have a chance to express its gratitude in a massive public ceremony.

The event (free and open to the public) will take place at Lute and Bobbi Olson Court at McKale Center from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Doors open at 10 a.m. There will be free parking in the Cherry Garage and surrounding surface lots. The ceremony won’t be broadcast on television.

Along with the thousands of fans expected to attend, many former UA players and current NBA stars will be dropping in for various Olson tributes. Former UA All-American Luke Walton was enlisted to record a voice message that was delivered to many UA fans’ phones, urging people to come to the ceremony.

Olson retired on Oct. 23, 2008, and finished his career at Arizona with a 589-187 record, 11 Pac-10 titles, 23 consecutive NCAA tournament appearances, four Final Fours, and a national championship in 1997.

The ceremony will take place just a few weeks after UA established the Lute Olson Fund for Excellence in Men’s Basketball in order to honor the Hall-of-Fame coach and ensure the future success of the men’s basketball program.

Donations are now being accepted for the fund to pay tribute to an individual who helped shape a program of excellence, a campus and a community. Contributions of any size will ensure that future student-athletes have the same opportunities for greatness both on the court and off.

“Coach Olson serves as a father figure to so many basketball lettermen and has helped to shape their lives as basketball players and individuals,” said honorary fund co-chairman and men’s basketball alumnus Steve Kerr in a press release. “This fund will not only keep Coach O’s dreams alive, but it will help continue the tradition of excellence at the University of Arizona.”

The first $100,000 will be deposited into an endowment. Other portions will be used for the immediate needs of the men’s basketball program, including locker room renovations, heritage and tradition updates, weight room equipment and office technology.

Individuals may donate to the Lute Olson Fund online by visiting http://www.wildcatclub.org/09-lute-olson-fund.html.

For more information regarding the Lute Olson Fund for Excellence in Men’s Basketball or to make a donation please contact Ryan Hansen (520/621-8400) or Phoebe Chalk (520/621-2331).

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