Coppin
State's Mitchell recovering after surgery
October 28, 2004
BALTIMORE —Coppin State University
Athletics Director/Head Men’s Basketball Coach Ron “Fang” Mitchell
has announced that he will be sidelined for an undetermined
period of time while recovering from surgery last week for
a benign tumor.
Doctors removed Mitchell’s thymus gland, a procedure
that required opening his chest, on Oct. 19 at the University
of Maryland Medical Center. He was released from the hospital
on Oct. 24 and has been recuperating at home since.
The longtime Eagles mentor expects to know more about when
he will be able to rejoin his team, which is scheduled to
tip off its season on Nov. 20 at Kentucky, once doctors assess
his condition on Nov. 12.
The tumor, approximately the size of a fist, was discovered
on Mitchell’s thymus gland earlier this month following
several visits to the doctor’s office. Symptoms
started in the spring when Mitchell began experiencing shortness
of breath. Following surgery, doctors informed him
that the tumor was benign.
“I’m a private person, and I did not wish to
tell the world about my health,” said Mitchell, who
initially declined to make his condition public. “However,
I’ve been overwhelmed by calls, so I felt it needed
to be addressed.
“I want to come back as soon as I can, but, for now,
I’ll work from home until the doctor determines when
I can start coming to the office. With something this serious,
I don’t want to rush anything.”
While Mitchell is away, senior associate head coach Don
Anderson will continue to run practices while sharing duties
with associate head coach Keith Johnson and assistant coach
Larry Tucker.
Mitchell has been consulting with members of the athletics
department staff via phone and e-mail to ensure its normal
operation until his return.
Mitchell, 56, is in his 19th season as Coppin State’s
head coach and has been the school’s athletics director
since July 1996.
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