Nice gig Lute's got

Skkorpion · December 15th, 2007, 09:35 AM

A year off to tend to a nasty divorce, all while drawing over $700,000 a year in salary, against current state law.

Very nice indeed.

Renz · December 15th, 2007, 10:00 AM

Nowhere does it say that paid leave is "against state law". I agree with DeConcini that anything Lute makes while on leave he has more than given back to the UofA in the last 24 years.

Olson on paid leave of absence
Legendary basketball coach will draw salary while on hiatus this season
Anne Ryman
The Arizona Republic
Dec. 15, 2007

When University of Arizona basketball coach Lute Olson extended his leave of absence for the rest of the season, people were so shocked that the question of whether he would continue to get paid never came up.

The answer is yes, he will be paid, though university officials declined to say whether the legendary coach is using up vacation or sick time as part of his leave.

And although most people don't get months of paid leave to deal with personal problems, Olson's treatment illustrates the rarified world of major college sports, putting him more in the league of a CEO of a major company than that of a typical university employee.

Indeed, Olson's base salary of $737,790 makes him one of the highest-paid employees in the state university system. But even those who question the leave acknowledge that he has brought in millions of dollars to the UA athletic department and put Tucson on the map in his 24 years as head coach of the Wildcats.

Former U.S. Sen. Dennis DeConcini, who serves on the Arizona Board of Regents, said he understands why some would question Olson's treatment. If Olson were a new coach with only one or two years at UA, this might be a legitimate concern, he said.

"But Lute Olson isn't the average Joe," DeConcini said. "He's a pristine celebrity. He's brought Arizona millions of dollars of publicity and dollars and funds for successful basketball."

http://www.azcentral.com/sports/ua/a...on1215-CP.html

Brian in Mesa · December 15th, 2007, 10:26 AM

DeConcini?

Maybe you're too young to know he's a crook and a liar.

False promises, land deals and bribes. :Keating5:

Not sure he's the best person to be speaking about money and what's appropriate.

As for Lute, if he had class he'd donate the money to charity or back to the U of A.

Who else works for a state university and gets months of paid leave to deal with personal problems?

green machine · December 15th, 2007, 11:43 AM

Quote:

UA Athletic Director Jim Livengood said that Olson's salary comes from the athletic budget and that no state funding or taxpayer dollars go toward his salary. Livengood added that the Hall of Fame coach is being treated the same as would any other athletic department employee.

Where's the problem? If UofA wants to pay him, that's their business.

Brian in Mesa · December 15th, 2007, 12:24 PM

Bigger question is why does Lute need a year off?

IIRC, when his first wife died he only took off a couple of weeks.

Some UofA fans have indicated there is more to it...but what?

MaoTosiFanClub · December 15th, 2007, 12:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brian in Mesa

Some UofA fans have indicated there is more to it...but what?

Nothing we'd tell you.

Almost all of Lute's salary is paid by booster groups, the rest is covered by the UofA athletic department which does not rely on state funding. When you're a HOF coach you get perks, getting paid while his issues are resolved is part of that.

And Lute makes $1.4 million after all is said and done too.

Renz · December 15th, 2007, 12:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MaoTosiFanClub

Nothing we'd tell you.

Almost all of Lute's salary is paid by booster groups, the rest is covered by the UofA athletic department which does not rely on state funding. When you're a HOF coach you get perks, getting paid while his issues is resolved is part of that.

What?! You mean big-time college coaches aren't treated like everyone else? The next thing you're going to tell me is that life isn't fair!

Must be a slow news day. This is a complete non-issue to everyone who isn't a Lute/UofA hater.

Dback Jon · December 15th, 2007, 01:13 PM

So now we know why Lute can't afford to play in Flagstaff - he needs all the money he can grub for himself.

MaoTosiFanClub · December 15th, 2007, 01:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dback Jon

So now we know why Lute can't afford to play in Flagstaff - he needs all the money he can grub for himself.

You're really still hung up on this?

green machine · December 15th, 2007, 01:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Renz

What?! You mean big-time college coaches aren't treated like everyone else? The next thing you're going to tell me is that life isn't fair!

Must be a slow news day. This is a complete non-issue to everyone who isn't a Lute/UofA hater.

Hell, I'm not a Lute Olson fan at all and I don't see any problem with this.

Dback Jon · December 15th, 2007, 01:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MaoTosiFanClub

You're really still hung up on this?

Until U of A and ASU play in Flagstaff, yes. Long-time series was ended by lute's childish whining. No rest until the series is rightfully restored. It has cost NAU a lot of lost revenue from lute's temper tantrum.

MaoTosiFanClub · December 15th, 2007, 01:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dback Jon

Until U of A and ASU play in Flagstaff, yes. Long-time series was ended by lute's childish whining. No rest until the series is rightfully restored. It has cost NAU a lot of lost revenue from lute's temper tantrum.

You can complain when your beloved Illini travel to UIC.

Arizona has bigger fish to fry than NAU, get a real athletic department and maybe we'll talk. At least we give your sorry program a shot at glory every year in McKale, unlike Herb who dodged the Jacks this year in favor of two other terrible Big Sky teams. Lute was 100% right, Arizona Basketball couldn't be a power if they were playin at NAU every other year.

Dback Jon · December 15th, 2007, 01:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MaoTosiFanClub

You can complain when your beloved Illini travel to UIC.

Arizona has bigger fish to fry than NAU, get a real athletic department and maybe we'll talk. At least we give your sorry program a shot at glory every year in McKale, unlike Herb who dodged the Jacks this year in favor of two other terrible Big Sky teams. Lute was 100% right, Arizona Basketball couldn't be a power if they were playin at NAU every other year.

Actually, NAU has a very good athletic program - winning football teams, cross-country teams that are a national power, good basketball,

And if you really think that having to go to NAU every other year to play the in-state rival would have hurt U of A's team, then you are even more delusional than I thought.

MaoTosiFanClub · December 15th, 2007, 02:00 PM

Quote:

And if you really think that having to go to NAU every other year to play the in-state rival would have hurt U of A's team, then you are even more delusional than I thought.

Someone who's clamoring for a national power to take roadies against an insignificant program in the Big Sky is calling me delusional? That's funny. Lose-lose scenarios do hurt a program which is all playing at NAU is.

Keep holding out though. I'm sure it will be a special day for you when UCLA travels to UC-Davis, Kentucky takes a game at Murray State, Kansas plays at Emporia State, and Arizona heads up the hill to take on NAU.

Hilarious.

Renz · December 15th, 2007, 02:22 PM

Jon also conveniently fails to mention that the biggest reason the UofA won't play at NAU was all the Lumberjoke "fans" who yelled obscenities at Lute, threw things on the court etc. the last time the Cats played in Flag. I'm sure he will find a way to spin it so that it was all the fault of Lute, though.

I don't understand why the UofA "owes" anything to NAU just because they happen to play in the same state.