\u201cI had severe abdominal pain,\u201d Mossburg recalled. \u201cI didn\u2019t want the kids to see me like that. They got me into the teacher\u2019s lounge. Luckily my wife (Lori) was there.\u201d<\/p>\n
The news got worse.<\/p>\n
\u201cI had a blockage in my intestine and the main artery to my aorta was blocked,\u201d he said. \u201cThey couldn\u2019t help me.\u201d<\/p>\n
![\"Airport](\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/8362312ff89e8ece41a4e660ddf95b82.jpeg\"\/)
<\/p>\n
Airport girls basketball coach Darrell Mossburg high-fives his assistant coaches following a 68-60 victory over Dearborn Divine Child in the finals of the Division 2 Regional that Divine Child hosted on Wednesday, March 11, 2026.<\/p>\n
Doctors finally figured out a course of action.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey gave me the end-of-life speech and rushed me into surgery,\u201d he said. \u201cThey didn\u2019t know if I was going to make it out.\u201d<\/p>\n
Right before he was wheeled in, his daughter, Chelsea Raisinen, revealed to him that she was pregnant with her first child.<\/p>\n
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His daughter-in-law Jessie Mossburg also is expecting.<\/p>\n
Thoughts of becoming a grandfather for the first time gave him determination.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat kind of changed my state of mind,\u201d he said. \u201cI had to see those grandkids.\u201d<\/p>\n
And he also had to see his other \u201ckids\u201d again.<\/p>\n
This year\u2019s Airport team was his best squad in 32 years of coaching (16 as a head coach). Mossburg has guided them through many ups and down. Four seniors on the team were four-year starters.<\/p>\n
The story has a happy ending.<\/p>\n
Mossburg stayed close to the team during his recovery, helping assistant Luke Baker with practice and game plans. He was finally cleared to resume his role as head coach in time for the state tournament.<\/p>\n
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Airport enjoyed the greatest season in school history, going undefeated in the Huron league in crafting a 24-3 record, winning a regional title for the first time and reaching the state quarterfinals before getting derailed by defending champion Tecumseh.<\/p>\n
![\"Airport](\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/5bd89f1688b771fcb6661ca5ab25255d.jpeg\"\/)
<\/p>\n
Airport girls basketball coach Darrell Mossburg talks to his team during a 60-50 win over Flat Rock in the finals of the Division 2 Girls Basketball District at Flat Rock on Friday, March 6, 2026.<\/p>\n
Mossburg has been named Monroe County Region Girls Basketball Coach of the Year.<\/p>\n
\u201cI saw these girls in the fourth or fifth grade and knew they could be one of the better teams we\u2019ve ever had,\u201d he said. \u201cIt turned out to be a fabulous year for everyone involved.\u201d<\/p>\n
Fabulous and frightening.<\/p>\n
Doctors made a startling discovery during Mossburg\u2019s emergency surgery in December.<\/p>\n
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\u201cMy body had created new arteries to the intestine to get the blood flowing,\u201d he said. \u201cA CAT scan found four new arteries forming. To keep it simple, I tell people I had a severe heart attack. But what I had was very rare. They called me Case 168.\u201d<\/p>\n
It might be described another way.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou could call it a miracle,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
His team helped him through the recovery.<\/p>\n
![\"Acting](\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/12ba0cd3a6fcec83bcbdc1ab97b5eb0f.jpeg\"\/)
<\/p>\n
Acting Airport girls basketball coach Luke Baker talks to his team during a 65-22 victory over Ann Arbor Pioneer on Thursday, Feb. 26, 2026.<\/p>\n
\u201cSMCC (Dec. 18) was the first game I was able to watch in the hospital,\u201d he said. \u201cIt was a little different. I knew I had to do whatever it took to get back.\u201d<\/p>\n
The team visited him about a week later.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt was very emotional when the kids came to see me a day or two before Christmas,\u201d Mossburg said. \u201cThey all came together right after practice.\u201d<\/p>\n
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By Dec. 29, doctors allowed Mossburg to attend an Airport game.<\/p>\n
Baker took over as interim coach.<\/p>\n
\u201cLuke puts in a lot of time for our program,\u201d Mossburg said. \u201cHe watches film and does a great job scouting. I knew they were in great hands while I rested.\u201d<\/p>\n
Mossburg often attended practices and sat on the bench for many games before taking the reins again in March.<\/p>\n
\u201cOne of my goals was always to get back before the end of the season,\u201d he said. \u201cI knew we had a special team this year. Obviously, I didn\u2019t want to miss it. Life can throw you some curveballs, but you\u2019ve got to keep pushing.\u201d<\/p>\n
Mossburg\u2019s family tried to make sure he didn\u2019t push too hard, too soon.<\/p>\n
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His daughter is an assistant coach for the team and his wife kept the scorebook for his first few games back.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe doctors were concerned about my blood pressure,\u201d he said. \u201cChelsea and Lori tried to keep me calmed down.\u201d<\/p>\n
Has this experience changed Mossburg?<\/p>\n
\u201cSome will say, \u2018No, it hasn\u2019t,\u2019\u201d he said with a chuckle. \u201cIt does make me respect each day more. If you are able to wake up each morning and put your feet on the ground, you have to try to have a great day.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis made me appreciate things more.\u201d<\/p>\n