October 16, 2013
Quadruple Bypass Successful For Andy Lopez
University of Arizona baseball coach Andy Lopez continues to do well in his recovery from open heart surgery earlier this month. He has announced a complete and full return to all coaching duties beginning with the start of preseason practices Jan. 15, 2014.
“All of my doctors have assured me that the surgery went very well, and I will fully return to coaching,” Lopez said. “With the doctors’ advice, I will take the rest of our fall practice season off and resume all of my normal coaching duties when we begin preseason practices.”
Lopez, who turns 60 next month, underwent quadruple bypass surgery on Oct. 7 at Tucson Medical Center. He was released and returned home Oct. 11.
“I cannot thank the entire medical team at Tucson Medical Center enough for their care and support through this process,” Lopez said. “I am grateful of the tremendous team effort by everyone involved.
“My primary physician, Dr. Jeffrey Selwyn, got the ball rolling, and I received unbelievable treatment from my cardiologist, Dr. Salvatore Torrito, and my heart surgeon, Dr. Raj Bose. Each of them has said I will be raring to go in January.”
Now in his 13th season with the school, Lopez has led the Wildcats to eight postseason berths, including two College World Series appearances highlighted by the 2012 national championship. He was named Collegiate Baseball’s National Coach of The Year that season.
Lopez has a 1,124-685-7 (.621) in 31 years as a collegiate head coach and is 437-267-1 (.621) in 12 seasons at Arizona.
Wildcat pitching coach Shaun Cole said Lopez experiencing tightness in his back and neck for six weeks. In the week preceding the surgery, he suffered from chest pain.
“Andy then scheduled a doctor’s appointment and went back for additional tests,” said Cole.
“It was determined that surgery was the best option at that point. Andy didn’t suffer any heart attack. Fortunately, doctors discovered the problem before that happened.”
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