Kentucky: Olson Out; Bartow Reconsiders

University of Arizona basketball Coach Lute Olson announced Sunday night that he is no longer a candidate for the vacant head coach’s position at the University of Kentucky.

“I feel honored to have been given an opportunity to visit with University of Kentucky officials regarding their vacancy, but have decided to withdraw my name from the list of those being considered,” Olson said in a statement released through Dr. Allan Biegel, Arizona’s vice-president for university relations and development.

“Contrary to some published reports, I was never more than one of several people under consideration, and the position was never offered to me,” Olson said. “I look forward to continuing my rewarding relationship with our team, the University of Arizona and the people of Tucson and the state.”

Meanwhile, a Lexington, Ky., newspaper reported Sunday that Alabama Birmingham Coach Gene Bartow has changed his mind and is interested in the Kentucky position.

The Lexington Herald-Leader quoted sources as saying that Bartow, who, after being interviewed by the Kentucky selection committee earlier this week, said he no longer wanted to be considered, now is back in the running.

The source told the newspaper that Bartow was impressed by the enthusiasm and aura surrounding the Final Four, being played on Kentucky’s home court of Rupp Arena, and expressed renewed interest in the job.

Bartow, contacted at his Lexington hotel room Sunday, said he had no comment on the story.

Arizona Athletic Director Cedric Dempsey said he was pleased that Olson had decided not to pursue the Kentucky vacancy.

“The fact that he was considered for this position is not only an indication of the high regard in which he is held by his peers, but also the growing stature of our program,” Dempsey said in a statement released through Biegel.

Henry Koffler, the school’s president, expressed similar sentiments.

“It is inevitable that a coach of his quality is going to receive offers from other institutions,” Koffler said. “I am delighted he is staying.”

Olson, who has been at Arizona for two years, was in Lexington over the weekend for a coach’s convention and the NCAA tournament finals.

He was interviewed by University of Kentucky President Otis Singletary and Athletic Director Cliff Hagan for the position that became vacant when veteran coach Joe B. Hall announced his retirement.

There had been reports that Olson was offered a $500,000 contract, but that was denied by both Singletary and Hagan, who said they were still interviewing candidates for the job and that it could take up to another week for a decision to be made.

ESPN had reported Saturday that Olson had been selected as the new Kentucky coach.