After twenty-five years of lighting a fire up Wildcat ass, Coach Lute Olson is leaving the University of Arizona basketball team. Last November, Olson took a leave from the team citing “personal reasons,” i.e. problems with the wifey who he was divorcing. The highly publicized divorce was just one of many mini-scandals that plagued Olson over the last year, including Olson being questioned by the media about contacting players while on leave and disparaging three players recruited by interim coach Kevin O’Neill.

USA Today reports:

Dick Vitale has just gone live on ESPN and reported that Lute Olson will resign today as the University of Arizona's basketball coach.

The school issued an immediate denial. "Dick Vitale's piece is incorrect at this time," Arizona sports information director Tom Duddleston said in a statement. He said the school does not have any press conference or official release scheduled at this time.

 

Vitale reported the resignation would come today, and that assistant coach Mike Dunlap would replace Olson.

 

"It's a lot of physical problems," Vitale said. "I just feel he feels like it's going to be very difficult to endure" the coming season.

Olson sat out last season, citing his health. He also went through a messy divorce that became very public…

Olson is in his 25th season as head coach of the Wildcats. With AU, he has one NCAA championship, four Final Four appearances, 23 consecutive NCAA tournament appearances, and 11 Pacific-10 championships.

Lute Olson’s been a great coach, but it seems like he may have gone off the deep end last year. The man probably needs a break after twenty-five years of kicking ass.