It’s been a sad day for Wildcat Nation with the passing of legendary men’s basketball coach Lute Olson, arguably the most famous sports figure in Tucson history if not the entire state.
In times of sadness, though, we’re often reminded of some great memories we may have forgotten. Like those wonderful TV commercials that Lute and former ASU coach Bill Frieder did in the 1990s for Valley National Bank and Bank One.
Frieder, who coached the Sun Devils from 1989-97, recently spoke about those commercials as well as his relationship with Olson, noting their heated rivalry didn’t extend beyond the basketball court (via ASU spokesman Doug Tammaro):
Lute was a Hall of Fame coach and also an incredible friend, father and husband.