Lute Olson suffered a small stroke sometime in the past year, his doctor said today, that likely resulted in depression and changes in judgment.
The stroke was discovered Monday night when Dr. Steven Knope examined the results of an MRI. The 74-year-old was told the news and remains at his home in Tucson.
"He is frankly devastated," Knope said. "This is something that is simply beyond his control."
Knope and three family members — daughters Christi and Jody and grandson Matt — attended today's news conference. The family, watery-eyed at times, declined to speak.
Knope said he had advised Olson in recent weeks to step down from his head coaching position, saying Olson "just couldn't put the pieces together."
Knope decided to request an MRI for Olson because he wasn't responding to therapy and medication for depression.
"He knew something was wrong, but he couldn't quite put his finger on it," Knope said.
Last year during Olson's leave of absence, Knope said, those treatments were effective.
The stroke was caused when a clot likely traveled from his heart to his brain, Knope said. It did not come from stress and anxiety, though it might have caused stress and anxiety over the past year.
It is in Olson's frontal lobe, which Knope said controls "executive function, or planning," and "a center for personality."
Olson took a mental status evaluation two days ago, Knope said, and "scored almost perfectly." Knope described assistants who would wonder about Olson's state of mind, but then would be "amazed at moments of brilliance and insight."
Olson has experienced a recurrence of an atrial fibrillation — or abnormal heart rhythm — in recent months, but that likely occurred after the stroke, Knope said. Olson first experienced an atrial fibrillation in 2000, Knope said, but was treated with medication. He is now taking blood thinners.
For years, Olson has been treated for a familial tremor, not Parkinson's disease, the doctor said. The tremor causes involuntary shaking and voice trembling.
At an April press conference, Olson said his blood pressure was 113/65 and his resting heart rate 60. "Ill put my physical condition up against anybody," he said.
Knope cleared Olson medically to return to coach the team March 24.
Knope said today that he asked Olson if he wanted to speak publicly about the stroke. "He said, 'Boy, it'd really be tough,'" Knope said.
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8 comments:
Oh man. That is so sad. I guess now everything fits in to place. He is an amazing guy and he will never be replaced at U of A.
True. I'm glad he wasn't just crazy though.
All of this has been in our papers, it is just so sad and such a hardship on his family. No wonder his divorce has been such a messy one. The doctor is in hopes that with treatment and the blood thiners that Lute will get back a lot of what he has lost, I hope so. It really is a sad situation.
That's so sad! It explains a lot for them, I'm sure.
So sad.
Ok, Lute is the man - no doubt about it and I hope he fully recovers and lives long enough to see the Cats win another title....which should only be about 20 YEARS AFTER THIS MESS HE LEFT THEM WITH!!! Sorry, folks, it is a sad situation and I do feel bad for him and hope the best for him but as far as the team goes he really let them down big time. He should have announced his retirement last year instead of his mysterious year absence so the U could go out and get another A-list coach to replace him. The U talked with Mike Montgomery (Stanford ex-coach, final four team) but because Lute was wishy washy on coming back Montgomery passed on the offer - Thanks Lute! Now we have lost 3 of our top ten recruits overnight, three of our best players are looking at tranferring and we have another no-name assistant coach (maybe worse than O'neill - even though that is hard to fathom given O'neill was so horrible). Lute is an icon and he will never be fully replaced but the U and Lute saw this coming over two years ago and could have taken action then and he could have gone out with the same class he has come to epitomize. Instead he screwed the team last year and married another hottie 30 years his junior (that would be like me marrying a 2-year-old...creepy...but makes me think old Lute has still got GAME with the ladies!) and then one week before the new season he quits without warning and doesn't even call the team or the recruits.
As you can tell I am torn - torn between the human-god that is Lute and the total screw-job he has leftt he program in. Sorry, Lute, I love you but it should have been adios 4 years ago - it kills me to even write that....when I heard the retirement news I rent my Jason Gardner jersey as the Jews of old - Bryan, wail and mourn with me. LUTE!!!!!!!!
It is sad and explainable. I don't think Lute could have done anything differently because he loved Basketball so much. Yes the team is in a precarious place now but Lute's plan was to bring AZ back but his stroke got in the way. History will judge him a great coach and a great person who put Tucson on the map. The doctor said his judgement was impaired and I can accept that. Lute we love you.
Chris (AKA Chredna),
Believe me I mourn with you. I wail also.
I'm upset just about as much as you are with the current state of the program. However, I don't think Lute should have called it quits 4 years ago. Last year, yes but not 4 yrs ago. Here is why, 4yrs ago we finished 1st in the pac and 1 point and 1 tremendous choke job away from a final 4. There was no reason to believe that the following 3 years were going to be what they were. The fact is we still were able to recruit top players. Although admittedly many were absolute flops but we still had the talent and excitement.
Now, although I do think that he should have retired last year I believe we would be worse off. Probably no Chase, Nic Wise, Jamelle Horne or even a sniff of Gaddy and Moser. If Jennings didn't go after the Euro money we are a top 10-15 team. That's what Lute would have left. Not too bad.
I couldn't agree more that this is the worst possible timing but I still think that the true test will be how Livenbad responds. Does he go and get who we need or does he get someone cheap? I don't know. I would have loved Montgomery as our coach. But somehow I think it would have ended up being O'neill. Ugh, the very thought makes me ill. The worst thing that has happened is the lack of a exit plan. I don't think Miles was a good hire and I think someone should have been groomed for this situation. Not really as a replacement but more of a good assistant who the kids actually know and will play for until another big name coach can come in. That was a big mistake. I'd feel a lot better with Roz as the interim and at least Pastner on the bench. I think it would help calm things. You have to think that this is a lack of judgment due to this stroke had when you look at what has happened. At least I'd like to think that.
Differences aside, I know we both are hurting right now. I'm told it will pass, but......who knows.
It will pass....like a kidney stone.
that is my biggest beef- that the UofA saw this coming and have done nothing - no grooming of a replacement, no recruiting of good asst coaches - they knew Lute would leave - where's the backup plan? and now with the newly announced budget cuts I can guarantee you they will go for someone cheap. We are completely starting over. Thank goodness for DVR so I can speed through the pain every Thursday and Saturday this season...You know what would cure my misery?...Head Coach Sean Elliot.
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