Following the year, Olson was awarded with the second annual Chase Winged Foot Award, an honor that is presented to the coach of the national champions by the New York Athletic Club.

In the year prior to the national championship campaign (1995-96), Olson reached a pair of head coaching milestones, as he won his 300th game as the UA mentor and attained his 500th career victory as a head coach.

Following the initial season as the Wildcats? leader, the Arizona basketball program began its trek into the local, regional and national spotlight. The excitement that Olson brought to McKale Center has been parlayed into sellout season ticket crowds for the past consecutive 16 years and well-earned respect for Olson among his peers in the coaching profession.

Olson?s Wildcat squads have finished the season ranked in the top 10 in one or both major college basketball polls for seven straight seasons and 13 times overall. In fact, Arizona has finished the season with a national ranking in each of the last 16 years. As a testament to his long-term greatness, CBS-TV included Olson on its list of the ?Ten Greatest Coaches in College Basketball History? during the 2003 Final Four.

He continues to put his stamp on the NCAA and Pac-10 coaching record books with each passing season. He has coached in the NCAA Tournament 24 times in the last 25 years, including the 19 consecutive appearances at Arizona, and overall he has a 42-24 (.636) NCAA Tournament record. In addition to the appearances with his Arizona clubs from 1985-2003, he led Iowa to trips in each of his final five years in Iowa City, including the 1980 Final Four.

Olson?s Arizona teams are 35-18 (.660) in NCAA play with trips to the 1988, 1994, 1997, and 2001 Final Fours. His Iowa teams were 7-6 in NCAA action, including a Final Four trip in 1980. His 42 NCAA Tournament wins ties him for fourth place on the NCAA Tournament?s all-time victory list, and he is one of just eight coaches who have coached in five or more Final Fours. Further, his 24 appearances in the NCAA Tournament puts him third on the all-time head coaching list.

Some teams rebuild, but Olson reloads his Wildcat program ? always giving his players the right to approve or disapprove any prospective recruit.

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