Majerus hospitalized, to resign after '04 ( 2004-01-29 09:48) (Agencies)
Utah basketball coach Rick
Majerus will resign at the end of the season after his latest health problem put
him in the hospital with chest pains.
Utah head coach
Rick Majerus watches from the sidelines during the second half of his
team's 44-76 loss to Connecticut in the consolation game of the pre-season
NIT in this Nov. 28, 2003 photo, at Madison Square Garden in New York.
Majerus was hospitalized with heart problems and will resign after the
season, the school announced Wednesday, Jan. 28, 2004. Majerus, 55, felt
chest pains Tuesday night, Jan. 27, and contacted a cardiologist in Santa
Barbara, Calif., where he went for treatment. [AP]
Majerus, 55, was being treated in Santa Barbara,
Calif., on Wednesday. His condition was not released.
Assistant Kerry Rupp will coach the Utes in the interim, though Majerus could
return and finish out the season if his health allows. Rupp will guide the team
when it plays Saturday against BYU.
Majerus is the second coach this week to take a leave because of health
reasons. Louisville's Rick Pitino took an indefinite leave Monday to determine
the cause of the urological-related pain.
"Its been a strange week for the coaching fraternity — first Rick Pitino and
now Rick Majerus," said Kentucky coach Tubby Smith, whose Wildcats beat Utah in
the 1998 title game. "This profession can be physically and emotionally
demanding."
The health of the portly Majerus has always been a concern, especially after
he had heart bypass surgery in 1989 — just six games into his first season at
Utah. Since then, he has led the Utes to the NCAA tournament 10 times.
"Everybody that knows Rick and cares about Rick has mentioned that he needs
to take care of himself," Utah athletic director Chris Hill said.
"I think coaches' lives in general are stressful. I think every year is
stressful because of the pressure they put on themselves," he said. "I think
they're all very, very intense and maybe Rick is maybe on the high end of
intense."
Majerus felt chest pains late Tuesday in Salt Lake City. He was flown to
southern California for treatment by his cardiologist.
Rupp and his fellow assistants heard about Majerus early Wednesday. Players
were kept away from the media until after a late afternoon practice.
Utah (15-5, 3-2 Mountain West) has lost its last two games, falling at Air
Force on Monday night 62-49. Majerus had one of his youngest teams this season
with just two seniors, no juniors and a host of underclassmen.
In Rupp's only game as head coach, Utah beat BYU 79-75 last season in Provo
after Majerus left to attend the funeral for the stepfather of former Utah
standout Andre Miller.
Majerus came to Utah from Ball State in 1989, and the 1990s saw Utah ranked
eighth among NCAA Division I programs in both wins (250) and winning percentage
(.767).
Majerus has twice taken extended leaves in two other seasons since he started
at Utah.
Along his bypass surgery in December 1989, Majerus coached one game in the
2000-2001 season before leaving to deal with health issues and care for his
ailing mother.
Majerus is well-known for his demanding coaching style and frequent
outbursts. His program had a high turnover rate, with many players leaving after
getting frustrated with Majerus' oft-abrasive treatment.
Utah was placed on three years' probation by the NCAA last summer after an
investigation confirmed several minor violations, including meals Majerus bought
during meetings with players. The NCAA rule has been changed to allow for such
meals as long as each one is documented.
Reacting to the reprimand, Majerus flashed his disdain for the NCAA's complex
rules.
"I don't think anybody ever said we gained a competitive advantage because,
'I had that hamburger with Majerus.' Or in recruiting, somebody would say, 'Hey,
if I only become a Ute I'll be able to go to Crown Burger with Majerus,'" he
said after the Utes were placed on probation.
Utah may still participate in postseason tournaments and no restrictions were
placed on TV appearances.
Just this month, Hill said Majerus was cleared in an investigation into a
complaint by a former player who claimed the coach berated him about his partial
hearing loss.