Former BYU basketball coach Dave Rose 'currently stabilized' after suffering stroke


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PROVO — The Brigham Young University basketball team announced on Twitter Saturday that former head coach Dave Rose has been hospitalized following a stroke he suffered Thursday.

The account said Rose is "currently stabilized in the hospital."

"The entire BYU Athletics family wishes to offer its collective faith and prayers in behalf of longtime coach Dave Rose and the Rose family," the tweet said, adding that the Rose family "expressed appreciation for the love and support they have received, and would ask for your continued faith and prayers in Coach Rose's behalf."

Rose was the BYU men's head basketball coach from 2005 until 2019, when he retired and Mark Pope took over the program. He won more than 300 games at the school and took the Cougars to the NCAA Tournament eight times, including one Sweet 16 berth in 2011 with national player of the year Jimmer Fredette.

Rose retired following the 2018-19 season with a career record of 348-145, a mark that stands second only to the great Stan Watts in BYU basketball history. But he also did so after several battles with his health to his then-61 years in age.

Rose is a cancer survivor, having fought off a rare form of pancreatic cancer that nearly claimed his life in June 2009. Surgery that put the disease into remission included the removal of his spleen and portions of his pancreas.

He had another cancer scare in 2013 — the removal of "cancerous spots" that was deemed a complete success and full recovery following an operation at the nearby Huntsman Cancer Institute and has been involved in charity efforts to raise funds to eradicate the disease ever since.

Just a few months after retiring, Rose suffered a "major" heart attack that left him hospitalized for several days, but he later recovered enough to be released, play golf, and even visit his former protege Pope at practice.

Rose nearly handpicked his successor in Pope, who coached from 2015-19 at nearby Utah Valley following a brief spell as an assistant on Rose's staff, as he was in constant dialogue and consultation during the hiring process. The two have been close for years as the current hoops coach relies on his mentor for regular advice, and still refers to him as "Coach" on most occasions — rarely adding "Coach Rose" or "Dave Rose."

To Pope, there is one "Coach."

"Lee Anne and I have such deep love and gratitude for Coach and Cheryl," said Pope, 48, who is 33-10 in his second season at BYU. "They have been incredibly generous mentors and friends. They have given their whole heart to BYU. They have brought so much joy to so many people for so many years. We are praying for Coach and his family."

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Graham Dudley reports on politics, breaking news and more for KSL.com. A native Texan, Graham's work has previously appeared in the Brownwood (Texas) Bulletin and The Oklahoma Daily.
KSL.com BYU and college sports reporter

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