Related articles:

UA: Lute back next year (with poll)Lute: Answers to come Shelton: Talks loom for Olson, Livengood Livengood: Lute will return immediately after this seasonIt's official: Lute will return next season

Other articles by Bruce Pascoe:

McClellan's outlook goes from awful to 'awe' full No change in Jennings' UA status Bayless has familiar faces in his corner UA, Jennings expect to wait week for test score76ers offer UA's McClellan summer-league roster spot LOWS AND HIGHS Jennings' status remains unclear; no score yet Arizona Wildcats basketball: Bayless traded to PortlandArizona Wildcats basketball: Jennings score not coming today No couch potato tonight

Trades/Construction
Pioneer Landscaping
Yard Person/Loader Operator Trades/Construction
Jacobs Electric
Electricians & Helpers Health Care
FRONT OFFICE Trades/Construction
Wentz and Patrick Construction
Carpenters & Helpers Trades/Construction
Paragon Electric
Electricians Trades/Construction
Lectra-Serv, Inc
Electricians & Helpers General
Prestige maintenance USA
Custodian

Lute Olson said he will return as Arizona’s head coach at the end of this season, acknowledging a “medical condition” for taking his previously unexplained, season-long leave of absence.

Olson said upon originally leaving the team Nov. 4 that he did not have “a health scare.” He was not available for comment to elaborate today, only issuing a statement through a UA news release.

“I am very eager to be back doing what I love, which is coaching this team,” Olson said in the statement. “I appreciate everyone’s support during this period and want to thank (interim coach) Kevin O’Neill for the great job he’s done in my absence.”

O’Neill said today that it was “great” that Olson announced a return, but did not say whether he would return as an assistant coach under Olson for next season.

“I don’t know that,” O’Neill said. “That’s an option, obviously. What I do is I make my decisions at the end of the year. I think anytime you even think about making your decision during the season, you’re making a mistake.”

It was also somewhat unclear how Olson’s decision might impact the upcoming decisions UA standouts Jerryd Bayless and Chase Budinger face about leaving for the NBA early. Budinger declined to comment on it, while Bayless said it wouldn’t matter who the coach is.

“I’m really not too worried about next year right now,” Bayless said.

Olson has been in and out of the program all season since announcing his leave of absence on Nov. 4. He returned to several practices later in November, and then said on Dec. 6 that he would stay out all season.

Since then, Olson has occasionally returned to his McKale Center office and talked with players although he has not attended a game or practice. He attended UA’s March 2 senior day ceremonies but left without comment, flanked by security.

So Monday’s announcement did not appear to surprise or rattle the Wildcats, who are just two days away from a first-round Pac-10 Tournament game against Oregon State that they probably must win to have a chance at an NCAA Tournament at-large berth.

“I don’t look at it as a distraction. I just think it’s another thing that’s been announced out of this program,” wing Jawann McClellan said. “Regardless of who the coach is, we know what task we have to do. We have to go out there and play for ourselves. We have to try to play a good game against Oregon State.

“I think people realize that Houdini could be the head coach and we still have to go out there and perform.”

Olson, 73, did not meet with the UA players and did not hold a news conference to discuss it. UA athletic director Jim Livengood called a news conference for Tuesday but Olson is not expected to be present.

Olson said in today’s news release that his leave from the team was necessitated “by a medical condition that was not life-threatening, but serious enough to require time away from my coaching responsibilities.”

He said in his Nov. 4 release, issued by a Phoenix-based public relations firm, that “it isn't a health scare but rather a personal matter that needs my undivided attention." Since then, his absence has sparked rampant rumors.

“I know there has been a lot of speculation about my situation,” Olson said. “I’m glad we can clear the air, but the most important thing right now is the team. All of our effort and attention should be on these student-athletes and their efforts to advance to the NCAA Tournament.”

O’Neill said he did not know of Olson’s health status.

“I never really have noticed anything in terms of good, bad or indifferent,” O’Neill said. “I’ve never asked Lute because I didn’t feel it was my place. I never really wanted to know.”

Olson has occasionally been seen at his McKale Center office and has talked with players. In mid-January, he told the Star outside his office that he had seen every minute of the Wildcats’ games but was keeping a low profile.

“I’m certainly not going to be around because I think it would be disruptive,” Olson said. “I haven’t gone to games … I don’t want to be disruptive to the team. But the nice thing is that I’ve been able to see every game and I will continue to.”

Olson showed up for UA’s senior day ceremonies following its March 2 home finale against UCLA, but was flanked by security when he left and did not speak with the media.

UA president Robert Shelton was out of town Monday and could not be reached. Shelton said last week that he intended to talk with Olson about his plans, since Olson’s family leave time had expired, with Livengood being the “point person” on these talks.

O’Neill has begun extending scholarship offers to spring signing period recruits. According to Phoenix Suns GM Steve Kerr, a former Wildcat star, Olson was preparing last week to take a fishing trip to Oregon and Kerr said the two did not talk about next season.

Olson is 589-187 over 24 seasons at UA.