FW*Telegram on DD's heart attack, more details

[OldTimer]

Mean Green's Dickey has heart attackBy TROY PHILLIPS

Star-Telegram Staff Writer

SPECIAL TO THE STAR-TELEGRAM/BILL JANSCHA

North Texas coach Darrell Dickey, who was taken to a Denton hospital early Friday, had a stint placed in one artery.North Texas football coach Darrell Dickey suffered a heart attack early Friday morning and was back home resting comfortably Sunday night after being released Saturday from Denton Presbyterian Hospital.

Dickey said Sunday that doctors inserted a stint in one artery that was 95 percent blocked, and that he was awake for the 25-minute procedure. He was taken by ambulance from his home at about 2 a.m. Friday after waking up with chest pain.

Dickey, 46, had his gall bladder removed in early February and was diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes on June 19. He recently had undergone a lifestyle change that entailed quitting smoking, proper diet and exercise, and a decrease in his alcohol and caffeine intake.

"I'm very lucky, because this could have been worse," Dickey said. "I'm supposed to be learning my life's lessons and passing them on to my players. One of the things they need to know is take care of your body along the way. For a long time, I didn't do a good job of that."

Since Dickey's gall bladder surgery, his weight has fluctuated from nearly 220 pounds to 172 and then back to 190 last summer. He said he's maintained a healthy weight, stayed on his exercise program and controlled his diabetes with diet and medication.

None of his heart or diabetes medication will counteract one another, Dickey said. Other than sugar and fatty foods, he'll also be watching his red meat and salt from this point, too.

"The adjustments I made [for diabetes] kept this from being worse, the eating right, not smoking, exercising," he said.

Dickey met with his players for about 10 minutes on Sunday, as per doctor's orders, and he might make one more appearance at the office this week. He's shooting for about an hour and a half on Wednesday. As for practice, he'll try to make the last few minutes if doctors allow it.

Assistant head coach Kenny Evans will be UNT's acting head coach for Saturday's game at Arkansas State, a crucial Sun Belt Conference game for the Mean Green to remain in the league race.

As for the possibility of attending the Oct. 28 game at Troy, Dickey said, "The doctor and I will visit later this week. Possibly, I would have to make some dramatic improvement.

"Even though this type of procedure was quick, and I made a full recovery [from the surgery] ... it takes a period of time. There doesn't need to be a whole lot of excitement, emotion, stress, jolting or lifting weights or anything like that. I have to take it slow early on and get back on course."

Dickey said his wife, Tory, stayed calm throughout the night so as not to alarm their 7-year-old daughter, Meredith.

"I'm very proud of her," Dickey said of Tory. "She showed a lot of poise. She did a good job."

Evans said seven UNT assistant coaches were out recruiting when Dickey went to the hospital. Evans called Friday to tell Dickey about a recruit, and Tory answered the phone.

"He had just come from the procedure," Evans said. "Tory gave him the phone, and he said, 'You guys are trying to kill me.' That's Darrell."

Evans said he has a full game plan outlined for Arkansas State, from the week's preparation to travel to the game itself. He was a co-interim head coach years ago at Missouri Southern for seven games after the head coach was dismissed during the season.

Coincidentally, Missouri Southern went 7-0 in those games.

"We're going to talk constantly, and if he [Dickey] feels like it, he'll make an appearance for five or 10 minutes," Evans said. "We'll follow the plan he set forth and get ready."

UNT athletic director Rick Villarreal said Dickey has had "as tough a year as anyone I've ever been around.

"From the administrative end, we'll do everything we can to facilitate Darrell having as much input as he can, but still abiding by what his doctors tell him to do."

IN THE KNOW

Darrell Dickey file

Born: Galveston

Birth date: Dec. 6, 1959

Record at UNT: 41-59 (ninth season)

Named UNT head coach on Feb. 25, 1998.

Offensive coordinator at SMU, Memphis and UTEP. Also coached at Mississippi State, LSU and Texas A&M.

Four-time Sun Belt Conference Coach of the Year.

Only North Texas coach to win four consecutive conference titles (2001, 2002, 2003, 2004).

Four-year starting quarterback at Kansas State (1979-82), led team to the first bowl appearence in school history (1982 Independence Bowl)

Kenny Evans file

Nine seasons at UNT, first as assistant head coach

Has coached linebackers for past six seasons and served as UNT's defensive coordinator before being promoted this season.

Assistant coach at Missouri Southern State College for nine seasons (1989-97)

Defensive coordinator at Southeastern Oklahoma State. Also coached at Florida (1985), Oklahoma (1982-84).

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Troy Phillips, 817-390-7760 tphillips@star-telegram.com