Texas El Paso Coach Suffers Heart Attack
Don Haskins, the basketball coach at Texas El Paso the past 35 years, was doing well Sunday after being stricken with a mild heart attack during a game Saturday night.
The 65-year-old coach is in Providence Memorial Hospital, where he is expected to spend the next few days undergoing tests in the cardiac care unit.
The school does not know if Haskins will return for UTEP’s game Thursday against Utah.
Haskins complained during halftime of UTEP’s 64-60 loss to New Mexico that he had chest pains and felt “cold and clammy.” He was taken to the hospital after being examined by emergency medical personnel.
School spokesman Eddie Mullens said the coach had been on medication to control high blood pressure, but had never complained of chest pains. He had not been feeling well during the week leading to the game, but blamed it on flu.
Haskins, a burly man nicknamed “the Bear,” has a career record of 675-304. Only Dean Smith of North Carolina has more victories among active coaches.
Get our high school sports newsletter
Prep Rally is devoted to the SoCal high school sports experience, bringing you scores, stories and a behind-the-scenes look at what makes prep sports so popular.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
