TUCSON — Lute Olson’s doctor said Tuesday the former Arizona men’s basketball coach had a stroke within the last year and he advised him to retire.
The comments by Dr. Steven Knope at a news conference called by Olson’s family offer the first explanation for Olson’s sudden retirement last week, just two days after he appeared at the Wildcats’ media day. Olson said at the time he was energized and looking forward to his 25th season with Arizona.
Knope said an MRI confirmed the stroke in the frontal part of Olson’s brain, which left the Hall of Famer with severe depression and impaired judgment.
“This is a rather cruel twist of fate,” Knope said during a McKale Center news conference attended by two of Olson’s daughters, Jodi Brase and Christi Snyder.
“He is quite literally devastated,” Knope said. “He was doing great over the summer and very much wanted to fulfill his obligation to the community and the university.”
Knope said Olson is resting at home and is on a blood thinner, and he is optimistic Olson will recover.
Footnotes.
Purdue quarterback Curtis Painter has what coach Joe Tiller called a slight to moderate right shoulder separation, putting his nation-leading streak of 40 consecutive starts in jeopardy heading into Saturday’s game against Michigan.
“It will be more up to the player than anyone else,” Tiller said of whether or not Painter will play.
• Washington State quarterback J.T. Levenseller will give up his redshirt season and play in his first game Saturday at Stanford.
Coach Paul Wulff said Tuesday that Kevin Lopina will start at quarterback, but Levenseller will play.
The Associated Press
