University of Utah basketball players must have known something was up Tuesday when the Utes' basketball office secretary, Rosemary Schmertz, phoned to invite them to a previously unscheduled meeting later that afternoon. Coach Rick Majerus originally had given them the day off to prepare for final exams, but now he had something to tell them.
In a brief, 10-minute meeting with his players, Majerus, the Utes' intense, overweight, first-year head coach, dropped a bombshell: that he would undergo open heart surgery Thursday morning and would no longer be their coach.The 41-year-old Majerus, who experienced chest pains following the Nov. 30 Purdue game, will have the surgery at LDS Hospital. Dr. Kent Jones, who is president of the school's booster club organization, will head the surgical team that will operate on Majerus.
"Rick has recently developed episodes of chest pain," said Dr. Jones in a prepared statement. "Our initial preliminary studies indicated that he had coronary artery disease. He underwent a coronary angiography Monday which confirmed the presence of the disease. After discussion with his physicians and the athletic administration, it was felt in his best interest to proceed with coronary bypass surgery Thursday morning at LDS Hospital. It is anticipated that he will have a full recovery and be able to resume his coaching activities in the future."
Majerus, who skipped last Friday's practice to see a doctor after complaining of prolonged flu symptoms, released an official statement Wednesday morning: "Under the advice of my cardiologist and physician it appears I will be on the shelf for the season. I expect to be back at full strength next season and for many seasons to come."
The news of course left the Ute players stunned. Team leader Tommy Connor, who privately had expressed concern for Majerus' health earlier in the season, said, "It was a real shock to all of us. It made me feel sick to my stomach. I know how much he loves coaching. It's going to be very difficult for him."
Said senior Keith Chapman, "It was a fairly emotional meeting (Tuesday). Basketball is what he lives for . . . I saw him earlier in the day and he told me (of the surgery). He was concerned about the team. I told him that he needs to take care of himself first and not worry about us."
Assistant coach Joe Cravens, who will assume Majerus' coaching duties, learned of the surgery when Majerus summoned him to his Salt Lake hotel room Monday evening. "He tried to put it off, but the doctor wouldn't let him," said Cravens.
Utah's announcement of the surgery was delayed until Wednesday, because, according to Sports Information Director Bruce Woodbury, "Rick wanted to have (Tuesday night) to tell friends and relatives."
With the Utes set to play their next game Saturday night against Weber State in Ogden, Majerus said, "I have full confidence that under the guidance of my outstanding staff . . . and the leadership of Tommy Connor and Keith Chapman, the team won't miss a beat."
Said Connor, "Coach Majerus said he'll stay in contact with us a little, but he'll have to stay away from the stress."
Similarly, Chapman noted, "He's going to get weekly reports on our academics. If we don't do what we've been doing, he said he'll come back and straighten it out. His big concern is our school work. He wants us to carry on the program he has started."
Following the announcement to his players on Tuesday, Majerus left the meeting and Cravens took charge, speaking to the team for another half-hour. Said Cravens, "I told them that from this point on we're in this together; that we can reflect on the situation a little, but from here on we've got the bulk and the toughest part of the season ahead of us."