Lute Olson, the coach that turned the University of Arizona basketball program into a national power, died Thursday night according to multiple reports. He was 85.
Olson took the Wildcats to 23 consecutive NCAA Tournaments in his 24 years in Tucson, compiling a 589-187 (.759) record highlighted by the school’s only national championship, in 1987. Olson’s Wildcats were also national runners-up in 2001.
During his tenure, Arizona claimed 11 Pac-10 (now Pac-12) championships and advanced to the NCAA Tournament’s Sweet 16 or better 10 times. Olson was named the conference’s Coach of the Year seven times, the last time in 2003, and guided the Wildcats to 20 consecutive 20-win seasons.