Passing of Former LBCC Basketball Coach, Lute Olson

Long Beach City College (LBCC) Athletics is sad to announce to recent passing of Lute Olson, former head coach for men's basketball (1970-73).

At LBCC, Olson complied an impressive 103-22 record in his four seasons as head coach. In 1970, LBCC finished second at the state tournament. He led the Vikings to three Metropolitan Conference titles as well as a state championship in 1971. Olsen was named Metro Conference Coach of the Year in 1970, 1971, and 1973.  In 2011, Lute Olson was inducted into the Hall of Champions.

Following his time at LBCC, he coached at Long Beach State University for one season leading them to an undefeated conference record and a Big West Championship. Olsen then accepted a head coaching position at the University of Iowa, where he coached for nine seasons (1974-1983) with an overall record of 167-91.

Olsen finished his coaching career at the University of Arizona, where he coached from 1983-2007. During his time at Arizona, Olsen coached notable players such as Steve Kerr, Mike Bibby, Jason Terry, and Gilbert Arenas. Under Olsen, the Wildcats made 23 consecutive National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) tournament appearances, won their first Pac-10 title, had their first Final Four appearance, and won the 1997 NCAA championship. He was voted Pac-10 Coach of the Year seven times and made five Final Four appearances. Olsen was also selected to coach the United States National Team in the 1986 International Basketball Federation World Championship, where the United States team took home gold at the world championship for the first time in 32 years.

"Long Beach City College has been a place where coaches have started, grown and moved on to become icons in their sport," said Interim Athletics Director Bill Husak. "Coach Lute Olson became that for collegiate men's basketball.  Although his legacy will be associated with the University of Arizona's program most notably, it began in Long Beach at City College and Long Beach State. His coaching achievements are monumental, but pale to the impact he had on the lives of young people. We send Vikings prayers for peace and comfort to the Olson family."

On October 23, 2008, Olsen announced his retirement from coaching. Olsen was inducted in the Basketball Hall of Fame in 2002 and was inducted in the National College Basketball Hall of Fame in 2006. Last fall, Olsen was re-inducted into the National Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame with the 2019 class.