Former University of Iowa basketball coach Lute Olson has died.
Olson coached the Hawkeyes from 1974 to 1983, leading them to a Final Four appearance in the 1979-1980 season.
He's best known for his years at the helm of the University of Arizona men's program, where he won a national championship in 1997.
“We are deeply saddened by the passing of former head coach and Hall of Famer Lute Olson," says current coach Fran McCaffery. "I will always remember the way he embraced me when I was hired as the Hawkeye coach. Lute expressed many times how proud he was and how much he loved coaching at Iowa. Over the years, Margaret and I became good friends with Lute and his wife Kelly, which is something that I will forever cherish. Lute will be missed by everyone in the Iowa basketball family.”
Former player and All-American Ronnie Lester says “coach Olson will always be remembered with the class and respect he lived by. He did things with class and was always respectful of others. He was not just a coach, but a positive role model, as he was a man of faith, a husband, and a father. Lute changed the culture of Iowa Basketball by just being who he was. He believed that if you worked harder than the next team, you should have high expectations. I am very thankful for having played for him, as I learned a lot about basketball and most importantly about doing things the right way. I have much love and respect for Coach Olson.”
Olson had 781 career wins and was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 2002. He passed away Thursday night at the age of 85.