University News

Football Coach Don Patterson on Medical Leave

July 11, 2008

Share Printer friendly version

MACOMB, IL - Entering his 10th season at Western Illinois University, Head Football Coach Don Patterson will be taking an immediate leave of absence due to a recent diagnosis of tonsillar cancer.

Patterson, 57, will have surgery Monday in Iowa City and embark on a seven-week treatment plan, forcing him to miss preseason camp and several games early in the season. In his absence, assistant head coach and offensive coordinator Mark Hendrickson will serve as acting head coach.

"I really feel like I am going to receive the best possible care," said Patterson about the University of Iowa Department of Otolaryngology. "And on top of that, I have been told that I am really the ideal patient because of my health and lifestyle."

"We will certainly give Coach Patterson all the support we can," said Athletics Director Dr. Tim Van Alstine. "Doctors have communicated to him a very high success rate, so we expect a full recovery and we wish him the very best."

"I expect out of myself the same things that I expect out of my players," said Patterson. "I am going to be very coachable, doing exactly what my doctors tell me to do, and I am going to be mentally tough. I will maintain the same positive attitude toward this that I have always had throughout my life. After meeting with the players and coaches today, I have no doubt they will respond in a way that will make us all very proud."

Copy by Jason Kaufman, Assistant Athletics Director for Media Services and Broadcasting

Posted By: WIU Athletics (SID@wiu.edu)
Office of University Communications & Marketing