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Kevin O'Neill will not return to the Arizona Wildcats basketball staff next year, UA coach Lute Olson said today.

O'Neill, who served as interim coach during Olson's leave of absence that began Nov. 4 and ended at the end of the season, will seek out another job, Olson said.

Olson said O'Neill told him he would prefer to become a head coach at another college and, if not, an assistant in the NBA.

"He won't be on the staff," Olson said. "If he doesn't land a job, then the university will be responsible for the second year on his contract."

Olson said he cannot hire a replacement for O'Neill "until he resigns officially."

O'Neill was on vacation today, Olson said.

Olson's news conference was his first since announcing a leave of absence Nov. 4 and then extending it to the rest of the season Dec. 6.

Olson cited anxiety and a reason for his departure. He said he was cleared by his family doctor before announcing his return.

Olson said he was told by athletic director Jim Livengood and senior associate athletic director Kathleen "Rocky" LaRose not to speak during his departure.

Olson said he and UA administrators decided in November that he needed to give them a decision before Jan. 1.

Olson said that, in November, he "could not go out and coach and be fair to the kids." That did not change before the end of the year, he said. He said he would have been able to return in February, but that he didn't think it would be fair to O'Neill or his team.

Olson said he spoke with the parents of guard Jerryd Bayless and forward Chase Budinger in the past week, and that they had not made a decision yet on whether to enter the NBA draft.