Austin Peay head coach Dave Loos to take leave of absence for cancer treatment

Austin Peay head coach Dave Loos will take a leave of absence from the Governor program as he continues chemotherapy for a cancerous lymph node, the school announced on Thursday.

Loos helped make headlines last spring by guiding Austin Peay to the Ohio Valley Conference tournament championship while his granddaughter, Rhyan, was undergoing cancer treatments of her own. Rhyan is the six-year-old daughter of Missouri assistant Brad Loos.

The elder Loos had colon surgery in July to remove a malignant tumor. Doctors also found a cancerous lymph node.

Assistant coach Jay Bowen has been named interim head coach while Loos continues his treatment.

Austin Peay athletic director Ryan Ivey voiced his support for Loos in the university’s release.

"Our primary concern right now is the health of Coach Loos," he said. "Our thoughts and prayers continue to be with him and his family and we wish him a speedy recovery."

Loos is the winningest coach in Austin Peay history, with 413 victories. He has won 495 total games over the course of his career.

Austin Peay is just 4-12 this season, but can pick up its first Ohio Valley Conference win on Saturday at Jacksonville State.