Team 103

John Beilein undergoes double bypass procedure, will miss foreign tour

John Beilein underwent a scheduled double bypass procedure and will miss Michigan’s trip to Spain later this month.

Michigan will be touring Spain from August 17th through 26th and will play three exhibition games overseas. Assistant coach Saddi Washington will serve as interim head coach during Michigan’s trip overseas.

Beilein is expected to be “fully active” by the start of the season according to a University of Michigan release. The 2018-19 college basketball season tips off on November 6th and practices can begin 42 days before a team’s first game (September 25th).

“I feel grateful and blessed that this surgery was performed at the University of Michigan,” Beilein said in a statement. “Kathleen, and our family appreciate all of the world-class care that was provided for us. Dr. Kim Eagle, Dr. Francis Pagani, Dr. Stanley Chetcuti and all of their staffs at the Frankel Cardiovascular Center are so talented and performed like champions over this past week.

“I am going to work very hard in my rehabilitation to be stronger than ever by the time practice begins for this upcoming season.”

Beilein is 65 years old and entering his 12th year at Michigan. He’s been to two Final Fours and eight NCAA Tournaments during his time in Ann Arbor and recently signed a rolling contract extension billed as a “lifetime contract” after interviewing for the head coaching job with the Detroit Pistons.

The Michigan Athletic Department released this statement on Tuesday morning.

 University of Michigan Donald R. Shepherd Director of Athletics Warde Manuel announced this morning (Tuesday, Aug. 7) that U-M’s David and Meredith Kaplan men’s basketball coach John Beilein underwent a successful, scheduled double bypass procedure at U-M’s Samuel and Jean Frankel Cardiovascular Center.

Beilein’s scheduled procedure was performed by Michigan Medicine’s Francis D. Pagani, M.D., Ph.D., at the Frankel Cardiovascular Center. He is set to leave U-M hospital in a few days and is expected to be fully active by the start of season.

“Coach Beilein underwent a two-vessel coronary bypass graft surgery Monday morning,” said Pagani, program director for the Michigan Medicine Center for Circulatory Support and surgical director of the adult heart transplant program. “The procedure is designed to improve blood flow to the heart, by taking a healthy artery or vein from another part of the body and grafting it to the obstructed coronary artery. The operation went well, and we expect him to make a full recovery and be back to his usual activities within a few weeks.”

“We are extremely grateful John’s proactive procedure was a success and that he is resting comfortably with Kathleen and his family,” said Manuel. “This university community is remarkably interconnected — from doctors, to professors, to our coaches. It is truly a place of the Leaders and Best. All of us within the Athletic Department cannot wait for John’s return.”

“I feel grateful and blessed that this surgery was performed at the University of Michigan,” said Beilein. “Kathleen, and our family appreciate all of the world-class care that was provided for us. Dr. Kim Eagle, Dr. Francis Pagani, Dr. Stanley Chetcuti and all of their staffs at the Frankel Cardiovascular Center are so talented and performed like champions over this past week. I am going to work very hard in my rehabilitation to be stronger than ever by the time practice begins for this upcoming season.”

With Beilein’s recovery he will not attend the Wolverines trip to Spain, Aug. 17-26. However, it remains scheduled with assistant coach Saddi Washington serving as U-M’s interim head coach, along with assistants Luke Yaklich and DeAndre Haynes.

Beilein completed his 11th season in Ann Arbor and his Wolverines are coming off a program-record 33 win campaign (33-8), a second straight Big Ten Tournament title and a run to the Final Four, and national title game — a second trip in the last six years.

Already U-M’s all-time leader in wins with 248, Beilein has compiled a career record of 799-461 (.628) during his 41 years as a collegiate head coach. In 11 seasons in Ann Arbor, U-M has made eight NCAA Tournament appearances with four Sweet 16 (2013, ’14, ’17, ’18), three Elite Eight (2013, ’14, ’18), two Final Four and national title game (2013, 2018) runs.

Notable Replies

  1. adamsmit86

    Wow. Glad to hear the surgery went well. Hope for a healthy and speedy recovery!

  2. eric_shap

    Wow… pretty serious stuff. Best of luck to Coach Beilein for a full and speedy recovery!

  3. umhoops

    Sounds like this was a scheduled procedure, but worth noting that Beilein’s father had his fair share of heart issues. Probably smart to be proactive.

    From Brendan’s still-excellent story on Beilein. This is John Beilein | MLive.com

    Arthur Beilein outlived four pacemakers. To this day, his children aren’t sure how many heart attacks he had. They were as commonplace as Sunday Mass - Art would get rushed to the emergency room as the family waited with silent prayers. Once John had to rush home from Wheeling, hitchhiking from the Buffalo airport to get back to Newfane.

    But Art always pulled through. Then he’d hop right back on his ladder, picking apples or painting the house, ignoring doctors’ orders.

    That was Art. He worked 35 years at a box factory in Tonawanda, climbing from laborer to plant supervisor. Those who knew him describe a gentleman - starched shirts and a congenital politeness that seemed hackneyed, but was genuine.

  4. bluejayway

    Based on snippets in interviews about his exercise, seems like Coach Beilein lives a pretty healthy lifestyle, so that should definitely aid in his recovery. Glad to hear that it a was successful, and a preemptive versus emergency, procedure.

  5. silverblue

    Prayers for Coach B and his family. Thankfully this procedure was performed at one of America’s best hospitals by exceptional surgeons in this highly ranked cardiology department. It sounds as though this was a planned surgery designed to insure Coach B’s future heart health. Again, prayers for Coach B, and may this procedure help him to live a full, healthy, and energetic lifestyle for many, many more years. Blessings to the Docs, Nurses, Techs, and the Beilein family.

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