Former Missouri coach Gary Pinkel is receiving treatment for cancer yet again.
Pinkel said in an interview with ABC-TV in Columbia, Mo., that he has been undergoing treatments for lymphoma. He was first diagnosed in 2015, but the cancer was thought to be in remission.
“I’m doing good. I had to get treatment again for the first time in four years. My cancer came out of remission, and so I had treatment last month. I’m doing fine,” Pinkel said. “With my type of lymphoma, you’ll never be healed. But that’s kind of why I retired when I did — I just wanted to not go back and regret working 85 hours a week, 35 weeks out of the year when I could be doing other things with my family and my eight grandkids.”
Pinkel, 67, coached at Missouri from 2001-15 after leading Toledo from 1991-2000. He was 191-110-3 overall and guided his teams to 11 bowl appearances.
“I’m going to battle it. I’ve got a very positive approach to it, and I’m around a lot of good people that are helping me,” Pinkel told ABC.
Pinkel started a foundation — GP M.A.D.E — and raised more than $350,000 for children with cancer or other physical and economical challenges.
He hosted a golf tournament Monday with a goal of generating more funds to support children and their families in those situations.
