By
Ryan Finley
Arizona Daily Wildcat
Rosborough brings different style, fire to slumping Cats
Jim Rosborough is not Lute Olson. In fact, he's the first to admit that his sideline demeanor is nowhere close to the stoicism Olson has displayed in his 18 seasons pacing the floor of McKale Center. Rosborough is a screamer and a vocal motivator, completely different from the stately Olson.
"He's more like my high school coach," junior forward Richard Jefferson said. "He's very emotional. He's great to have on the sidelines."
One only needed to see Rosborough in post-game interviews following this past Saturday's 85-76 loss to Stanford at McKale Center.
Rosborough, who was 28-56 in three seasons as head coach at Northern Illinois, bore the scars of nearly two hours of screaming and pacing.
"I've been with Coach O for 21 years," Rosborough said. "I would bet you most of my salary that he's never been in (the media room) with his tie undone, his sport coat off, and his shirt all sweaty and rumpled up."
Despite his 1-4 record this season as the Wildcats' acting head coach, Wildcat players say that "Coach Roz" has brought much-needed intensity to a team that has been playing sluggish basketball since losing Olson, who has been on indefinite leave since Dec. 30, when he left the team to take care of his wife, Bobbi, who was stricken with ovarian cancer. Mrs. Olson died Jan. 1.
"Our chemistry is slowly coming together," sophomore point guard Jason Gardner said. "Coach Rosborough is doing a great job, and he is a great coach. We have to practice hard and keep improving."
Rosborough, 56, has seemingly done it all as Olson's top assistant for more than 20 years.
While the two coaches were at Iowa from 1974 to 1983, Rosborough was the program's top recruiter, bringing in prep stars from the Chicago area en route to a 1979 Big Ten Conference title and a 1980 NCAA Final Four appearance.
When Olson left to come to Tucson 18 years ago, Rosborough chose to stay in Iowa City, where his affable personality and frankness translated into a job as the Hawkeyes' radio color commentator.
After three seasons as a head coach at NIU and a season at Tulsa, Rosborough rejoined Olson in April 1989 and has stayed as one of Olson's top assistants since.
Rosborough was elevated from assistant coach to associate head coach prior to the 1997 season, the year the Wildcats defeated Kentucky to win the NCAA national championship.
When Olson left the team just prior to the Wildcats' 71-69 loss to Connecticut on Dec. 9 in Storrs, Conn., there was little question as to who would take over for the popular head coach.
When Olson again removed himself from the UA program less than two weeks ago to spend time with his ailing wife, Rosborough was again tabbed to run the program.
Rosborough said that his goal as Olson's temporary replacement is to bring intensity to a team that has lost two games in a week, a 75-74 loss on Dec. 30 to Mississippi State and Saturday's loss to the Cardinal.
"I really thought our kids played hard in the two games since I've had a chance to be with (the team) and maybe just interject a little more of my personality," he said. "I think we really battled hard."
