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N.C. State's Yow Takes Leave of Absence to Fight Cancer

Nov 23, 2006

North Carolina State University's head women's basketball coach announced Wednesday she will take an indefinite leave of absence from her coaching duties to fight breast cancer.

Coach Kay Yow, 64, originally had a recurrence of her breast cancer two years ago, 17 years after its original diagnosis in 1987. Following two years of treatment with dietary modification, oral hormonal therapies and radiation, Yow's doctors recently detected progression of the disease, according to a statement released by the university.

Yow has already begun a treatment of chemotherapy and newer targeted biologic therapies.

Associate head coach Stephanie Glance will serve as interim coach during Yow's absence, the news release stated.

"I have every confidence in my coaching staff to continue the development of this outstanding group of young women, while I focus on the treatment of my breast cancer," Yow said.

Glance will coach the team, which currently posts a 3-1 record, this weekend, at Arizona and the University of California at Santa Barbara.

"As a public figure, attention will likely be focused on me with this change in the status of my breast cancer," Yow said. "I would prefer if equal attention were centered on my team, and on the many other women and men in North Carolina and across the country who face the same struggle with their cancers that I do."

Yow is in her 32nd season as head coach of the Wolfpack women and has posted 696 wins during her storied career -- the sixth-most in the history of NCAA women's basketball. She was the coach of the women's
gold medal team at the 1988 Olympics in Seoul, Korea and was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 2001 with a group including Larry Brown and Ervin "Magic" Johnson.  She was also acknowledged as the "Person of the Year" for the state of North Carolina by the Raleigh News & Observer in 2002.
 
"Obviously, our biggest concern is for Coach Yow's health and well-being," Director of Athletics Lee Fowler said Wednesday. "Our thoughts and prayers are with her as she goes through this difficult time. I hope that all Wolfpackers will unite to support our women's basketball team more strongly than ever."