Busch leaves

Back in February, Hillenbrand waters were shaken when Frank Busch announced his resignation as Arizona’s swimming and diving head coach. After 22 years at Arizona, Busch may be stepping down from his coaching position, but is ultimately stepping up in the swimming world. With his resignation, Busch also announced his future career as USA Swimming’s National Team director.”” I had to weigh the decision, there are pros and cons to everything,”” Busch said. “”I would say the factors were having an opportunity to give back to a sport in a way in which I can affect a lot of people, or do I continue on with my little piece of the pie here? I felt like this opportunity would never happen again.””

Men’s hoops wins the Pac-10 title

The intro video had already been edited. Among all other Arizona basketball accomplishments, Sean Miller announced “”12 Pac-10 Titles”” in the montage before the season finale against Oregon. Had Arizona lost, at the very least, it would’ve shared the conference title. But instead, a win allowed the Wildcats to cut down the nets in McKale Center and say one last goodbye to Jamelle Horne and Derrick Williams on a positive note. After the game, Miller said winning the Pac-10 title gave off a special and unique vibe: It’s never?guaranteed?that the best teams win conference titles.?

Leo, goodbye

For 32 years Leo Golembiewski was the front man for the Arizona Icecats, the club hockey team at the UA. But as the saying goes, all good things must come to an end. Unfortunately, though, not always on good terms. Golembiewski was forced out by a contingent of players who were unhappy with the way the club’s founder ran the team. The club will now be known as the Arizona Wildcats club hockey team, shedding the popular “”Icecats”” nickname that started in 1979.

Zendejas, Sun Devils and missed kicks

It was a definitive exclamation point on a disastrous end to the regular season for the Arizona football team. Despite starting 7-1, the Wildcats lost their last four games — five, including the bowl game — and none were more heartbreaking than the loss to ASU. After being shut out in the first half, the Wildcats stormed back and had a chance to take a 21-20 lead at the end of the fourth quarter. But Alex Zendejas’ extra point was blocked to send the game into overtime, tied at 20. Then, after an ASU touchdown, David Douglas scored on a screen to bring the Wildcats to within one — only to watch a second Zendejas extra point get blocked. The victorious Sun Devils stormed the field while Zendejas slammed his helmet and got into a screaming match with several fans as he lft the field.

Barrett jumps to a title

Back in March, sophomore Brigetta Barrett won the indoor high jump title at the 2011 NCAA Indoor Track and Field Championships. On her first attempt she cleared the winning height of 1.885 meters, garnering Barrett her first national title of her career and third All-America honors. Now, Barrett is focusing on her outdoor season and has currently the best height in the nation for women’s outdoor track and field with 1.899m — this height is also tied for the best jump in the world for the outdoor season.

Kenzie Fowler uses her head

It is said that in sports one play can change the course of an entire season. The 2011 Wildcats softball team knows this better than most. When a foul ball came off the bat of Arizona’s Nicole Bryan, barely cleared the dugout fence and hit an unsuspecting Kenzie Fowler in the forehead, Arizona went from first in the Pac-10, gunning for a national title, to clinging to respectability while they wait for the return of their concussed ace. Three weeks later, Fowler returned against the UCLA Bruins and picked up her 22nd win.

Game-winning touchdown against Iowa

The Arizona football team let a 20-point lead evaporate against the Iowa Hawkeyes in the second half of Arizona’s 34-27 win during the third week of the 2010 season. Arizona turnovers let Iowa back into the game. But with the score tied at 27, quarterback Nick Foles and receiver William “”Bug”” Wright couldn’t connect on a wide-open touchdown pass on second down. The third-and-goal situation was the charm. Foles then hit Wright in the back of the end zone to give the Wildcats the win.

“”I got it, I got it, I …””

The Arizona Wildcats softball team was one out from taking the first game of the championship series of the Women’s College World Series in June 2010.

In the bottom of the seventh inning, UCLA’s Dani Yudin hit a catchable fly ball to left center, but neither left fielder Brittany Lastrapes nor center fielder Lauren Schutzler made could make the play. Yudin landed at second base and a double two batters later tied the game, sending the contest to extra innings. The Bruins eventually won 6-5 in the contest and took the series momentum with them.

The Wildcats lost the championship series 2-0 and UCLA claimed the national title.  

Sean Miller agrees to contract extension

After leading the men’s basketball team to the Elite Eight in his second season at the helm, head coach Sean Miller flirted with the opening at Maryland following the sudden retirement of Gary Williams.

Through a two-day process that put fans on pins and needles, Miller agreed to a contract extension with Arizona athletic director Greg Byrne, spurning the Terrapins and their highly-regarded basketball program.

Miller met with Maryland athletic director on Saturday, the day after the news broke, but announced his agreement to stay in the desert and his top 10 national 2011 recruiting class that evening.