Dan Rolfes update: Incarnate Word releases statement on girls basketball coach who suffered medical emergency

Incarnate Word Academy released a statement prior to Saturday's Missouri state championship game

COLUMBIA, MISSOURI – Incarnate Word Academy released a statement Saturday on the status of girls basketball coach Dan Rolfes, who suffered a medical emergency following his team's Class 6 semifinal win a day earlier and is recovering in a nearby hospital.

"The Incarnate Word Academy family feels the love and support from the entire community and is overwhelmed with gratitude," the school said. "We do sincerely ask for continued prayers and privacy for the family while Coach Rolfes recovers. The role of the IWA administration and our immediate focus is to support the students and families of Incarnate Word Academy at this time, while respecting the Rolfes' family's request for privacy while they and the trusted medical staff create a plan for Coach Dan's full recovery. Given the sudden nature of this news, that is all of the information we have at this point."

The school released the statement prior to the Missouri Class 6 girls basketball championship game on Saturday where Incarnate Word (30-0), which has won 130 consecutive games, was set to play Kickapoo (30-1) at Mizzou Arena.

Before that game, the second of three state championships on Saturday, the Vashon boys basketball team defeated John Burroughs to claim the Class 4 title.

Vashon coach Tony Irons, who won his seventh state title at the school, spoke afterward about Rolfes and his impact on high school basketball.

"He's incredible," Irons said. "You know, I got the word, second-hand, yesterday. And then I saw things on Twitter. And again I didn't want to reach out to anybody. Because I mean his family and everyone, they deserve nothing but our prayers and I know they appreciate all the people reaching out and checking on it and all of that but like sometimes, sometimes families need for it to be a little bit private and you know, just the impact that he's had not just on the game – the girls basketball game, which is you know, if you follow girls basketball right now, it is trending in incredible direction, you know, with the players and all that but he's had success. He's had girls go on to the next level playing the WNBA, his work with USA Basketball, with bringing home gold medal." 

"Like, I mean, he's about all the right things as well and he's impacted so many lives. So, you know, for me personally, you know, I'm praying for him. I know he's gonna pull through and continue to make a full recovery on this and because that's just who he is. He's a fighter as a competitor as a person in general. So, you know, his family, the girls out there, for them to even go out there and still participate in the game it shows you the level of character that they have and they want to win it for their coach. I mean, it's remarkable man, I can't even I can't even fathom to think about that. But you know, like I said, we're praying for him, our family, our program's praying for him. 

"... We had shootaround right after Cor Jesu and me and the coach from Cor Jesu we're both talking about the situation, praying and all that. So, again, he's got to community. Basketball coaching is a fraternity and no matter how we compete with each other, or if we don't speak on daily basis, we still have the utmost respect for each other. And again, like we want to see him back where he belongs on the sideline."

Incarnate Word girls basketball coach suffers medical emergency at Missouri state championships

IWA and the Rolfes family thank everyone for the outpouring of love, support, and prayers for our beloved coach Rolfes.
We ask for your continued prayers for Coach, his family, and his care team during this critical time.

The Red Knights WILL PLAY the State Championship game at…

— IWA_Athletics (@Athletics_IWA) March 16, 2024

Missouri (MSHSAA) basketball state championships live updates: Day 4 scores, news, stories (3/16/2024)

- Nate Latsch | latsch@scorebooklive.com | @SBLiveMiz