DaytonDailyNews.com

OXFORD — The past week or so, there has been a lot of speculation about area basketball coaches — University of Dayton's Brian Gregory, Wright State's Brad Brownell, Xavier's Sean Miller — moving on to other jobs.

But the most compelling story of all is that of another familiar name around here just trying to get back to his old job.

Early last month, Charlie Coles — who's had a history of heart problems — took a temporary leave from his job as the Miami RedHawks head coach, entered Mercy Hospital Fairfield and began a grueling March Madness of his own.

Before the month ended, he'd have, among other things, two heart surgeries, four bypasses and get his heart reshaped.

"Sure I was scared," Coles said. "But the doctors and the nurses are phenomenal. I marvel at what they can do. Some of the stuff they did to my heart just blew my mind."

Yet, with heart fixed and mind blown, another problem developed.

Late last month, he developed a bleeding ulcer and ended up back in the hospital for that.

It's left him ''pretty beat up," as he put it, and he's just started to get out of the house.

He was at Millet Hall on Friday, April 4, to try 15 minutes of walking exercises in the arena hallway.

As he sat in his office beforehand, the front door of the Miami hoops domain was guarded by basketball secretary Corrine Osterberger.

"You're lucky, usually I won't let anybody get in there to him," she said of the school's beloved coach. "But he's feeling pretty good today and says he wouldn't mind talking."

And when he did, what a story he had to tell.

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