Lute Olson’s legacy lives on with Andre Iguodala still contributing to the Golden State Warriors’ success, nine former players now as head coaches — including the Warriors’ Steve Kerr — and six of his Wildcat players behind the mic as analysts.
Two of Olson’s longest standing NBA players from Arizona — Richard Jefferson and Jason Terry — are no longer in the league.
Jefferson, a natural behind the mic, is now a Pac-12 Network analyst, and he also commentates on the Brooklyn Nets for the YES Network. Jefferson will be working today’s game between his alma mater and Cal Poly.
Wonder how many times the Pac-12 Network will show the Jefferson Gymnasium adjacent to McKale Center? He was the major donor for the facility, giving $3.5 million, for it to be built 10 years ago.
If Terry does not get into coaching, which he said he wants to do, he can always be a very successful broadcaster with his effervescent personality.
Olson’s Arizona contingent behind the mic:
[table sort=”desc”]
Player,Network,Role
Sean Elliott,Spurs/Fox Sports,Analyst
Richard Jefferson,Pac-12 Network/Nets’ YES Network,Analyst
Kenny Lofton,Fox Sports West,Dodgers commentator
Matt Muehlebach,Pac-12 Network,College basketball analyst
Tom Tolbert,KNBR San Francisco,Talk show host
Corey Williams,ESPN,College basketball analyst
[/table]
Overall, 22 former Arizona athletes are broadcasters as well as three former coaches. A total of 11 Arizona alums who were not athletes at the school have advanced to become sports broadcasters. All of them are listed below:
ARIZONA PRODUCTS BEHIND THE MIC
ATHLETES (21)
Baseball (3)
[table sort=”desc”]
Player,Network,Role
Scott Erickson,Pac-12 Network,Analyst
Joe Magrane,MLB Network,Analyst
J.T. Snow,Pac-12 Network,Analyst
[/table]
Tedy Bruschi is in his ninth season as an ESPN NFL analyst (ESPN screen shot)
Football (7)
*Also played basketball
[table sort=”desc”]
Player,Network,Role
David Adams,520 Sports Talk,Analyst
Tedy Bruschi,ESPN,NFL studio analyst
*Kelvin Eafon,KCUB (1290-AM),Pregame and postgame analyst
Glenn Howell,Tucson News Now (Channel 13),Guest analyst
Lamont Lovett,KCUB (1290-AM),UA football commentator
Josh Miller,Pittsburgh CBS affiliate,Radio show host
Glenn Parker,Fox Sports Arizona,Cardinals analyst
[/table]
Men’s basketball (6)
**Also played baseball
[table sort=”desc”]
Player,Network,Role
Sean Elliott,Spurs/Fox Sports,Analyst
Richard Jefferson,Pac-12 Network/Nets’ YES Network,analyst
Kenny Lofton,Fox Sports West,Dodgers commentator
Matt Muehlebach,Pac-12 Network,College basketball analyst
Tom Tolbert,KNBR San Francisco,Talk show host
Corey Williams,ESPN,College basketball analyst
[/table]
Corey Williams has worked for ESPN, Pac-12 Network and FS1.
Softball (4)
[table sort=”desc”]
Player,Network,Role
Jenny Dalton-Hill,ESPN,Analyst
Jennie Finch,ESPN,Analyst
Kenzie Fowler,Pac-12 Network,Analyst
Leah O’Brien-Amico,ESPN,Analyst
[/table]
Swimming (1)
[table sort=”desc”]
Player,Network,Role
Amy Van Dyken-Rouen,Pac-12 Network,Analyst
[/table]
COACHES (1)
[table sort=”desc”]
Person,Network,Role
Andy Lopez,Pac-12 Network,Baseball analyst
[/table]
JOURNALISTS/UA STAFF (11)
[table sort=”desc”]
Person,Network,Role
Alex Flanagan,NBC/NFL Network,Sideline reporter/anchor
Anthony Gimino,KCUB (1290-AM),Pregame and postgame analyst
Jeff Goodman,Stadium,College basketball reporter
Ryan Hansen,IMG Network,UA basketball commentator
Dan Hicks,NBC,Golf play-by-play
Mike Luke,KCUB (1290-AM),Sports talk show host
Jody Oehler,Phoenix Fox Sports radio,Sports talk show host
Steve Quis,ESPN,College basketball play-by-play
Ryan Radtke,Westwood One,NCAA/NFL play-by-play
Arnie Spanier,Fox Sports Radio,Host
Todd Walsh,Fox Sports Arizona,Host/reporter
[/table]
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ALLSPORTSTUCSON.com publisher, writer and editor Javier Morales is a former Arizona Press Club award winner. He is a former Arizona Daily Star beat reporter for the Arizona basketball team, including when the Wildcats won the 1996-97 NCAA title. He has also written articles for CollegeAD.com, Bleacher Report, Lindy’s Sports, TucsonCitizen.com, The Arizona Republic, Sporting News and Baseball America, among many other publications. He has also authored the book “The Highest Form of Living”, which is available at Amazon.
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