Dan Rolfes coach of Incarnate Word watches his defense against Troy Buchanan in the Class 6 girls quarterfinal at Troy Buchanan High School in Troy, Missouri on Friday, March 8, 2024. Paul Baillargeon/ Special to STLhighschoolsports.com
Incarnate Word Academy girls basketball coach Dan Rolfes remains in a Columbia hospital but is "improving" according to an update from family members.
The 52-year-old suffered a heart attack less than an hour after the Red Knights beat Rock Bridge 65-41 in a Class 6 state semifinal March 15 at Mizzou Arena.
IWA claimed its seventh successive state championship with Rolfes in intensive care at University Hospital across the street from the arena.
Rolfes is currently listed as "stable with small signs of improvement," according to a release from IWA president Sharon Gerken. He is still in the intensive care unit.
The team responded to the tragic news by beating Kickapoo 53-43 in the state championship game March 16. Several players, including senior Kaylynn Janes, wrote "Play For Rolfes" on their wrists and forearms as a reminder.
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"It still seems like it didn't happen, like it's not real," Janes said Sunday afternoon.
Incarnate Word coach Dan Rolfes talks to his team Friday during a timeout against Troy Buchanan in the Class 6 girls basketball quarterfinal at Troy Buchanan High School.
Rolfes, who suffered the heart attack in the parking lot at Mizzou Arena, is dealing with numerous complications. He is on dialysis to help his kidneys. He is also receiving breathing support from a CPAP machine.
His wife Lisa and children Kate, Jake and Grace remain optimistic and are encouraged by the small but consistent progress he has made over the past 12 days.
Basketball coaches, players and fans throughout the country have reached out in support of the popular Rolfes, who has compiled a 701-86 overall record including a 660-75 mark at the private school located in Bel-Nor.
Rolfes is nationally known after he guided the USA Basketball team to a championship in the Under-16 Women's FIBA championships in Merida, Mexico, last summer. USA Basketball officials were so impressed that they appointed Rolfes to coach the under-17 team this summer.
He was inducted into the Missouri Basketball Coaches Association Hall of Fame on April 22, 2018.
The Red Knights have won 131 successive games, the longest current run in the nation. Their last loss was a 46-44 setback to Rock Bridge on Feb. 8, 2020.
IWA has won a state record 14 championships, 13 under Rolfes.
Class 6 girls basketball state championship: Incarnate Word 53, Kickapoo 43
Incarnate Word hold hands before the Class 6 girls championship basketball game against Kickapoo on Saturday, March 16, 2024, at Mizzou Arena in Columbia, Mo. Gordon Radford | Special to the Post-Dispatch.
Incarnate Word hoists the Class 6 girls basketball state championship trophy Saturday after beating Kickapoo 53-43 at at Mizzou Arena in Columbia, Mo.Â
Coach Tanner Wilkenson embraces Kate Rolfes following the Class 6 girls championship basketball game against Kickapoo on Saturday, March 16, 2024, at Mizzou Arena in Columbia, Mo. Incarnate Word defeated Kickapoo 53-43 for its 7th successive championship. Gordon Radford | Special to the Post-Dispatch.
The Red Knights show the trophy to the student section following the Class 6 girls championship basketball game against Kickapoo on Saturday, March 16, 2024, at Mizzou Arena in Columbia, Mo. Incarnate Word defeated Kickapoo 53-43 for its 7th successive championship. Gordon Radford | Special to the Post-Dispatch.
Coach Tanner Wilkenson embraces Kate Rolfes, daughter of Dan Rolfes, following the Class 6 girls championship basketball game against Kickapoo on Saturday, March 16, 2024, at Mizzou Arena in Columbia, Mo. Incarnate Word defeated Kickapoo 53-43 for its 7th successive championship. Gordon Radford | Special to the Post-Dispatch.
The Incarnate Word Red Knight students cheer on the team during the Class 6 girls championship basketball game against Kickapoo on Saturday, March 16, 2024, at Mizzou Arena in Columbia, Mo. Gordon Radford | Special to the Post-Dispatch.
Incarnate Word's Peyton Olufson brings the ball down court during the Class 6 girls championship basketball game against Kickapoo on Saturday, March 16, 2024, at Mizzou Arena in Columbia, Mo. Gordon Radford | Special to the Post-Dispatch.
Incarnate Word Coach Tanner Wilkenson talks to the Red Knights during the Class 6 girls championship basketball game against Kickapoo on Saturday, March 16, 2024, at Mizzou Arena in Columbia, Mo. Gordon Radford | Special to the Post-Dispatch.
Incarnate Word's Kaylynn Janes hits an easy layup during the Class 6 girls championship basketball game against Kickapoo on Saturday, March 16, 2024, at Mizzou Arena in Columbia, Mo. Gordon Radford | Special to the Post-Dispatch.
Kickapoo's Mikayla Pilley grabs Incarnate Word's Nevaeh Caffey during the Class 6 girls championship basketball game against Kickapoo on Saturday, March 16, 2024, at Mizzou Arena in Columbia, Mo. Gordon Radford | Special to the Post-Dispatch.
Incarnate Word senior Kaylynn Janes is embraced in the waning moments of the Class 6 girls basketball state championship game Saturday at Mizzou Arena in Columbia, Mo. Incarnate Word defeated Kickapoo 53-43 for its seventh successive championship.
Kickapoo's Kya Johnson goes up to block Incarnate Word's Abbie Sextro during the Class 6 girls championship basketball game on Saturday, March 16, 2024, at Mizzou Arena in Columbia, Mo. Gordon Radford | Special to the Post-Dispatch.
Incarnate Word's Addi Owen tumbles while driving to the basket during the Class 6 girls championship basketball game against Kickapoo on Saturday, March 16, 2024, at Mizzou Arena in Columbia, Mo. Gordon Radford | Special to the Post-Dispatch.
Incarnate Word's Kaylynn Janes jumps for joy as time expires during the Class 6 girls championship basketball game against Kickapoo on Saturday, March 16, 2024, at Mizzou Arena in Columbia, Mo. Incarnate Word defeated Kickapoo 53-43 for its 7th successive championship. Gordon Radford | Special to the Post-Dispatch.
Incarnate Word's Nevaeh Caffey drives to the hoop during the Class 6 girls basketball state championship game against Kickapoo on Saturday, March 16, 2024, at Mizzou Arena in Columbia, Mo.Â
Kate Rolfes and Coach Jeff Lottmann await the medal presentation following the Class 6 girls championship basketball game against Kickapoo on Saturday, March 16, 2024, at Mizzou Arena in Columbia, Mo. Incarnate Word defeated Kickapoo 53-43 for its 7th successive championship. Gordon Radford | Special to the Post-Dispatch.
Incarnate Word's Peyton Hill throws up a shot during the Class 6 girls championship basketball game against Kickapoo on Saturday, March 16, 2024, at Mizzou Arena in Columbia, Mo. Gordon Radford | Special to the Post-Dispatch.
Incarnate Word's Peyton Hill hits for three during the Class 6 girls championship basketball game against Kickapoo on Saturday, March 16, 2024, at Mizzou Arena in Columbia, Mo. Gordon Radford | Special to the Post-Dispatch.
The Red Knights embrace following the Class 6 girls championship basketball game against Kickapoo on Saturday, March 16, 2024, at Mizzou Arena in Columbia, Mo. Incarnate Word defeated Kickapoo 53-43 for its 7th successive championship. Gordon Radford | Special to the Post-Dispatch.
Incarnate Word's Abbie Sextro reacts in the final seconds during the Class 6 girls championship basketball game against Kickapoo on Saturday, March 16, 2024, at Mizzou Arena in Columbia, Mo. Incarnate Word defeated Kickapoo 53-43 for its 7th successive championship. Gordon Radford | Special to the Post-Dispatch.
Incarnate Word's Peyton Hill goes up for a block during the Class 6 girls championship basketball game against Kickapoo on Saturday, March 16, 2024, at Mizzou Arena in Columbia, Mo. Gordon Radford | Special to the Post-Dispatch.
Incarnate Word fans show support for coach Dan Rolfes during the Missouri Class 6 girls basketball state championship game against Kickapoo on March 16, 2024, at Mizzou Arena in Columbia, Mo.
during the Class 6 girls championship basketball game against Kickapoo on Saturday, March 16, 2024, at Mizzou Arena in Columbia, Mo. Gordon Radford | Special to the Post-Dispatch.
Incarnate Word's Nevaeh Caffey lays it up past Kickapoo's Mikayla Pilley during the Class 6 girls championship basketball game on Saturday, March 16, 2024, at Mizzou Arena in Columbia, Mo. Gordon Radford | Special to the Post-Dispatch.
Incarnate Word's Kaylynn Janes hits for three points during the Class 6 girls championship basketball game against Kickapoo on Saturday, March 16, 2024, at Mizzou Arena in Columbia, Mo. Gordon Radford | Special to the Post-Dispatch.
Incarnate Word's Nevaeh Caffey defends Kickapoo's Mikayla Pilley during the Class 6 girls championship basketball game against Kickapoo on Saturday, March 16, 2024, at Mizzou Arena in Columbia, Mo. Gordon Radford | Special to the Post-Dispatch.
Incarnate Word's Nevaeh Caffey and Kickapoo's Mikayla Pilley battle for the ball at center court during the Class 6 girls championship basketball game on Saturday, March 16, 2024, at Mizzou Arena in Columbia, Mo. Gordon Radford | Special to the Post-Dispatch.
Incarnate Word’s Nevaeh Caffey drives past Kickapoo’s Kya Johnson during the Class 6 girls basketball state championship game March 16 at Mizzou Arena in Columbia.
The Incarnate Word coaching staff stands for the national anthem before the Class 6 girls championship basketball game against Kickapoo on Saturday, March 16, 2024, at Mizzou Arena in Columbia, Mo. Gordon Radford | Special to the Post-Dispatch.
Fans show support for Coach Dan Rolfes during the Class 6 girls championship basketball game against Kickapoo on Saturday, March 16, 2024, at Mizzou Arena in Columbia, Mo. Gordon Radford | Special to the Post-Dispatch.
Incarnate Word fans show support for coach Dan Rolfes during the Class 6 girls basketball state championship game against Kickapoo on Saturday, March 16, 2024, at Mizzou Arena in Columbia, Mo. Rolfes had surgery and was hospitalized after Incarnate Word’s semifinal victory Friday.
