COOKEVILLE, Tenn. (WSMV) – John Pelphyrey, the head coach of Tennessee Tech University’s men’s basketball team, announced his wife, Tracy, is in a battle with cancer.
On Wednesday, Pelphrey shared his family is beginning a fight against a new opponent as his wife has been diagnosed with Stage 3 Colorectal Cancer.
“The War ahead will be challenging,” Pelphrey said. “’The Game Plan’ is cutting edge, intentional and solid. It is going to be a year-long confrontation that gives Tracy the best opportunity to be cured and to eliminate the possibility of recurrence.”
Tracy is set to undergo four months of chemotherapy, followed by six weeks of radiation, a six-week break and then surgery to remove the tumor.
“I am not looking for a 1-point Win on this one… I want a blowout! Complete destruction and annihilation of this disease that is threatening my wife, best friend and most trusted advisor!”
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“If you know me, being a coach’s wife for over 30 years, I am a ferocious competitor and know ‘hard moments’ must be handled,” Tracy said. “So, just know I am filled with determination and resolve to beat this, and understand I am literally in a fight for my life.”
She shared that she’s surrounded by love and that every day she feels the strength of her family and Cookeville community lifting her up.
“Cancer messed with the wrong person,” Tracy said.
John has been the head coach of the Golden Eagles since 2019.
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