Former Southeast coach finds silver lining during illness

People who know Ed Arnzen probably realize he didn't need the confirmation.

But Arnzen told me his recent near-death experience made him "realize how many friends I have. Many of them associated with basketball, many who were not.

"That was one of the good things that came from this illness. I just heard from so many people, it really gave me a lot of encouragement to get well."

Arnzen, a Leopold native, is a lifelong Southeast Missouri resident who is probably most well-known locally for his successful 19-year run as Southeast Missouri State's women's basketball coach.

Barely two months ago, life couldn't have been much better for Arnzen.

On Dec. 5 at the Show Me Center, Arnzen's 1990-91 team that finished second in the NCAA Division II national tournament with a school-record 31 wins was inducted into the Southeast Athletic Hall of Fame.

One month later, Arnzen was fighting for his life at Saint Francis Medical Center after being stricken suddenly with a form of meningitis.

Arnzen, who spent several days in a medically-induced coma, almost didn't make it. He recently returned home after several weeks in the hospital.

Although still somewhat weak, Arnzen said he is fast recovering thanks to daily physical therapy as he slowly but surely regains the strength and coordination he lost.

During his ordeal, Arnzen said he has been overwhelmed by all his frequent visits and get-well wishes -- from family and friends, along with people he said he hadn't had much contact with over the years but had learned of his plight.

Arnzen firmly believes all the thoughts and prayers from the community helped pull him through the illness, from which he said he expects to make a complete recovery.

While Arnzen knows he probably won't be able to thank everybody personally, he wanted people to know how much he appreciates all the support and encouragement.

Arnzen said he is especially thankful for all the expert care he received while in the hospital, and is still receiving.

Arnzen, who compiled a 340-202 record at Southeast before retiring in 2002, ranks as one of my favorite people during my 25 years working at the Missourian.

As good a coach as Arnzen was -- and he was a heck of a coach -- he's that much better as a person. I have always been honored to consider him a friend.

I'm certain I speak for everybody in the area when I say I couldn't be happier that the worst is apparently over for him.

Here's wishing one of the area's all-time greats many, many more years of good health.

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Southeast's hopes of winning an Ohio Valley Conference men's basketball game this season grew even slimmer with Friday's dismissal of top player Calvin Williams for violating athletic department policy.

As I reported in Saturday's Missourian, a source told me Williams was dismissed from the squad after he failed a drug test administered by the university, which resulted in a violation of the athletic department's code of conduct.

Williams was suspended for four games this season -- the two exhibitions and the first two regular-season contests -- following his October arrest on suspicion of possession of a controlled substance and driving without a license.

Following the arrest, Williams was apparently told by university personnel that he likely would face drug tests at various points the rest of the season.

Williams is a likeable young man and I don't believe he's a malicious person, but he displayed horrible judgement to even put himself in a situation to fail a drug test when he knew tests almost certainly would be administered.

Anyway, I'm hoping for the young man's sake that he's able to get his act together and maybe use his final season of eligibility at some non-Division I program while continuing his college education.

As for next year's Southeast hoops outlook, this is a major blow for the coach who takes over the program.

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For about the past month, ESPNU has been televising an OVC men's basketball on Thursday nights, and last week there was a dandy.

In a matchup between two of the league's top teams, Tennessee-Martin slipped past Austin Peay 87-82 in overtime.

Next up might not be such a dandy as Southeast takes its 13-game losing streak -- longest in the nation -- to Eastern Kentucky.

Southeast, 3-21 overall and 0-13 in the OVC, is a virtual lock to break the school record for losses in a season, 22 during the 2001-02 campaign.

The Redhawks did turn in a strong performance Saturday, leading by two points at halftime before falling at Eastern Illinois 70-62.

And Southeast gave Eastern Kentucky quite a battle on Jan. 17 in Cape Girardeau before a 3-pointer just before the buzzer beat the Redhawks 74-71.

So maybe Thursday's contest will be worth watching.

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According to the Purdue athletic department website, the Boilermakers' football team will host Southeast in 2011 to account for the Redhawks' annual "money" game against a major program.

I don't know if Southeast has lined up a Division I-A opponent for 2010 yet.

The Redhawks visit Cincinnati in 2009.

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The high school basketball game between Scott County Central and Sikeston is just two days away.

With the Show Me Center sold out for Wednesday's contest, there should be an incredible atmosphere for the matchup.

I have no rooting interest, but I'm sticking with my recent prediction of SCC to win.

Mainly, though, here's hoping the game turns out to be as good as all the hype surrounding it.

Marty Mishow is a sports writer for the Southeast Missourian