Austin Peay Basketball: Head coach Dave Loos to enter chemotherapy

Mar 17, 2016; Des Moines, IA, USA; Austin Peay Governors head coach Dave Loos on the sidelines during the first half against the Kansas Jayhawks in the first round of the 2016 NCAA Tournament at Wells Fargo Arena. Mandatory Credit: Steven Branscombe-USA TODAY Sports /

Austin Peay basketball head coach Dave Loos will take a leave of absence from the program.

Austin Peay Governors head coach Dave Loos will take a leave of absence from the team as he battles chemotherapy for a cancerous lymph node, per release. His absence began Thursday and will continue for an indefinite amount of time.

Loos has been with the Austin Peay program since 1990. He has not missed a game in his entire career at the school. He is also the fourth-longest tenured coach in America.

A statement released by the university announced that “a July surgery for the removal of a malignant tumor on Loos’ colon led to the discovery of a cancerous growth on a lymph node.” According to ESPN, Loos has been receiving chemotherapy treatments for several months now.

Loos, the current wins leader at Austin Peay, has a career win total of 403. His 816 games is 63rd among coaches in NCAA history. He has made four NCAA Tournament appearances, his most recent coming last season. He has coached six 20+ win seasons with the Governors, a very impressive number for a mid-major school. He is currently in his 27th season as head coach of Austin Peay.

It is unclear when Loos, nearly 70 years old, will return. Assistant coach Jay Bowen will be the interim coach during Loos’ absence.

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The Governors are 4-12 on the season this year, a significant drop from their 18-18 record last season. Their 2015-16 campaign ended after a loss to Kansas in the Round of 64 of the NCAA Tournament.