Allen Takes Leave as Cancer Recurs
- Share via
Boise State Coach Pokey Allen took a medical leave of absence after a biopsy confirmed he has a recurrence of cancer in both his lungs.
“I am a little scared,” said Allen, who will go to Seattle next week for tumor-removal surgery. “I’d like to act braver than I am, but I’m scared.”
Allen, 53, was diagnosed with a rare, deadly tissue cancer in his right triceps in December 1994. The tumor was removed in March 1995. After eight months of chemotherapy and a stem-cell transplant procedure, Allen’s cancer was declared in remission.
Allen is 23-14 in three years at Boise State.
Tom Mason, an assistant, will become interim coach.
Go beyond the scoreboard
Get the latest on L.A.'s teams in the daily Sports Report newsletter.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
