Coach Lute Olson has notified the University of Arizona that he will not return to the team this NCAA basketball season, it was announced Thursday night.
Olson has decided to extend his leave of absence from the team, citing personal reasons, but will return to the bench next year.
"I do this with great reluctance, because I care greatly about the University of Arizona, the basketball program and the players on this team," Olson said in a statement Friday evening. "But there are personal issues within my family that need to be addressed, and I must devote my full energy to that.
"I plan to return to coach at the University of Arizona next year. In the meantime, my heart will be with the team, the coaches and staff. Our student athletes are in great hands, and I wish for them nothing but success with the remainder of the season."
Olson left the program on Nov. 4, citing undisclosed personal reasons.
Since then, Arizona (No. 24 ESPN/USA Today, No. 22 AP) has been led by Kevin O'Neill, Olson's top assistant. At this time last year, O'Neill had no idea he would be stepping in for Olson to begin the 2007-08 season.
Replacing Olson was not one of his options. But it became a reality when O'Neill, who coached with Olson at Arizona from 1986-89, was hired last summer as the Wildcats' chief assistant.
Source: ESPN.com
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