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After more than a month of turmoil surrounding Lute Olson and the University of Arizona basketball program, the coach filed for divorce Thursday against his wife of four years, Christine.

The filing came the same day the 25-year UA coach said he would continue his leave "for "personal reasons" the rest of this season. He plans to return next year.

Olson, 73, married the former Christine Toretti, 50, in Las Vegas in 2003.

The "marriage is irrevocably broken and there is no reasonable prospect of reconciliation," Olson's lawyer, Leonard Karp, said. "It's a decision that took a lot of consideration and thought, and Mr. Olson decided it would be best for himself, the team and his family."

Messages left for Lute Olson and for his daughter, Jody Brase, were not returned Friday.

Christine Olson was served with the divorce papers Thursday while in New York for meetings associated with her position as part of the Republican National Committee of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

The Olsons were scheduled to meet Friday in Chicago, where the Arizona basketball team takes on the University of Illinois today. But after being served, Christine headed back to Tucson. Upon her arrival here, she issued a statement saying she is "personally devastated" and will remain committed to her marriage.

Lute Olson hopes that any issues can be resolved amicably, Karp said. Both parties signed a prenuptial agreement, he said.

Even if Christine Olson opts not to contest the divorce, it would not become final for 61 days, Karp said.

"Our family has been struggling through a difficult and private matter for some months now," Christine Olson said in her statement. "It was our hope that during my husband's temporary leave of absence, we would be able to focus on our family and successfully address this matter. Unfortunately, it seems that my husband has reached a decision that he is unable to continue our relationship together during this difficult time."

Lute Olson began his leave of absence on Nov. 4, leaving the program in the hands of his assistant, veteran coach Kevin O'Neill.

"There are personal issues within my family that need to be addressed, and I must devote my full energy to that," Olson said in a statement, adding that he was facing a "personal matter" that was not a health scare.

Since then, Olson has returned to help coach in most practices beginning on Nov. 26. However, he has not attended any of the Wildcats' games.

As the oldest head coach in Division I basketball, Olson has been facing retirement rumors for years, especially from rival recruiters.

Then 66, Olson missed 18 days and five games during the 2000-01 season, when his first wife, Bobbi, died of ovarian cancer.

The Wildcats reached the NCAA championship game that season, and also reached the Elite Eight in 2003 and 2005.

Under Olson, the Wildcats made 23 straight NCAA tournament appearances and won or tied for the Pac-10 Conference title 11 times.

The Wildcats won the national championship in 1997.

Olson amassed a total of 1,063 wins over his 49 seasons of coaching, 780 of them at the Division I college level. He is 589-187 over 24 seasons with Arizona.

Check out go.azstarnet.com/pdf to view more Olson documents