The health concerns surrounding former Arizona Wildcats basketball coach Lute Olson took another turn over the weekend.
According to multiple media reports, the 84-year-old Hall of Fame coach was hospitalized at the Banner University Medical Center in Tucson on Saturday after suffering what is being described as a minor stroke.
“David Labiner, chairman of the UA department of neurology, said Olson ‘is expected to make a full recovery but will likely need some rehabilitation therapy after his discharge from the hospital,’” the Arizona Daily Star reported on Monday.
Having retired from coaching back in 2008, the latter part of Olson’s tenure in Arizona was defined by medical issues and erratic behavior. Ultimately, his family held a press conference days after his retirement noting that Olson had suffered a stroke.
Olson’s longtime physician at the time, Steven Knope, indicated that the above-mentioned stroke “resulted in some severe depression.”
Now, more than a decade later, Olson is back fighting this affliction.
“Coach Olson is not only an icon of our men’s basketball program and all of college basketball, but he is also an embodiment of greatness to Arizona Athletics, the University of Arizona and the Tucson community. Our thoughts are with Coach Olson, his family and loved ones during this time,” the Arizona Athletic Department said in a statement on Monday.
Olson coached Arizona’s basketball program from 1983-2008 — earning one title and leading the team to the NCAA Tournament each of his final 23 seasons.
Our thoughts go out to Olson as he recovers from this latest setback.