Former UConn Basketball Player/Coach Steve Pikiell Reveals Cancer Diagnosis

Our best wishes go out to current Rutgers men’s basketball coach Steve Pikiell, who announced on Wednesday that he is battling cancer.

He did not reveal what type of cancer that he has, saying instead that he went to the doctor a few months ago after not feeling 100 percent.

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He indicated in his statement that he plans on being involved with the team the best he can, but that he has trust in his staff to take over when he is unable to be around. He said he’s confident he will beat this diagnosis.

Obviously, it’s a long season, and it’s impossible to project how much Pikiell will be on the sidelines for the Scarlet Knights, but that’s not the most important thing right now.

Pikiell is a 1991 graduate of UConn who played point guard at the university and also spent the first season of his coaching career there (1991-92).

The veteran head coach is entering his 11th season at Rutgers, and he’s made the NCAA Tournament twice so far (2021 and 2022), while also coaching highly-selected NBA draft picks in Dylan Harper and Ace Bailey.

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Prior to Rutgers, he helped turn Stony Brook into an America East power, making the postseason six times in seven years. He also won the conference’s Coach of the Year on four occasions. Beyond that, he was an assistant at George Washington, Central Connecticut State, Yale and UConn.

He played four years for the Huskies under legendary head coach Jim Calhoun, helping the Huskies eventually win their first Big East title and advance to the Sweet 16 and Elite Eight. He was a captain for two years and both those deep NCAA Tournament runs happened under his leadership. 

As a No. 11 seed when he’s a senior, his Huskies beat LSU, which was led by Shaquille O’Neal.

Stony Brook Seawolves head coach Steve Pikiell reacts from the sideline as they take on the Connecticut Huskies in the first half at the XL Center. UConn defeated Stony Brook 91-57. David Butler II-USA TODAY Sports

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Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/former-uconn-basketball-player-coach-180511942.html

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Publish date : 2026-09-09 18:05:00

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