The Review

Issue date: 4/24/07 Section: Sports

Media Credit: Courtesy of UD Photo Services Former men's basketball assistant coach Ryan Iversen played three seasons for Delaware and coached two. Iversen plans to pursue a career in business and spend time with his family in Minnesota.

It was the day after Christmas, and the men's basketball team was back on the court for practice. Assistant coach Ryan Iversen was running a drill and working out with the players like he usually did. But in an instant, fate took a turn on Iversen as his right leg collided with one of the players. A routine drill became a freak accident that would leave Iversen still unable to walk four months later.

The injury, known as acute-compartment syndrone, led Iversen to resign from the team and return to his hometown in Minnesota.

Iversen said his decision was based on the uncertainty of the situation.

"It was too much for me, and I don't know when I'm going to get better," he said. "I don't know when I'm going to be able to run, or walk without crutches. I don't know when I'm going to be able to do my job again."

Since then, Iversen has had three surgeries and must go to rehab three times per week.

During the remainder of the season, he said he has been able to do recruiting work, like talking on the phone or writing letters, but was benched when it came to day-to-day activities.

"It is a really rare injury," Iversen said. "I had never heard of it or anyone who had it. It happens with car accidents or any time you have trauma to your body. It would be more likely to happen in football than in basketball."

Although he tries to do some type of exercise every day, Iversen said he has no feeling from his shin down and cannot lift his foot of the ground.

"I don't know if the nerves will ever regenerate," he said. "We want to get the nerves stronger so I can be able to walk without crutches or a brace."

Iversen said since he has always been a hard worker, the most difficult part of the injury has been his lack of energy.

"I get tired after an hour of being out of my house," he said. "After an hour, I am ready to go home and sit down. I am just really fatigued."

Assistant coach R.C. Kehoe said it was hard to see somebody who always gives 100 percent reduced to doing nothing.

Continued...

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