Following a season in which Steve Lavin led St. John’s back into the postseason, the university announced that he did so with early stage prostate cancer.
Diagnosed in the fall, Lavin, 46, will begin undergoing treatment in the coming weeks. According to the university, this treatment allows Lavin to continue his coaching duties unhindered. April is a vital month on the recruiting trail.
“This past fall I didn’t want to distract our team, but with the season behind us, we are now working with medical experts and taking the proper steps to tackle this health challenge head on,” Lavin said, adding that the cancer was detected in its early stages.
Lavin’s doctor described it as a “low-grade cancer” where treatment was able to be put off until after the season.
Lavin has involved himself with organizations promoting cancer research and awareness for the past decade, including Coaches vs. Cancer and The V Foundation for Cancer Research.
As part of the Coaches vs. Cancer Suits and Sneakers weekend, Lavin wore white Nike Air Force Ones during the Johnnies upset of Duke to help raise awareness and support the American Cancer Society.
Claiming comfort and not superstition, Lavin continued to sport sneakers during games for the remainder of the season. With the news of his cancer diagnosis, maybe the sneakers meant a little more than just comfort.
