COLUMBIA, Mo. — Missouri men's basketball assistant coach David "Dickey" Nutt is stepping away from the team temporarily to undergo treatment for a recent cancer diagnosis.Â
Nutt and next steps Thursday afternoon in a statement on X, formerly known as Twitter.
"After a recent checkup, I was diagnosed with cancer and will begin chemotherapy treatment in Columbia early next week," Nutt wrote. "I have a great team of family, friends, colleagues, student-athletes and doctors surrounding me and since it is believed to be found very early, we are optimistic that I will have a full recovery. I want to encourage everyone to get regular screenings for early detection and to get educated on potential risks and warning signs. I look forward to returning to Mizzou basketball and will be cheering the team on and scouting opponents until then. M-I-Z!"
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Nutt arrived at MU with coach Dennis Gates. The duo worked together previously at both Cleveland State and Florida State. Nutt was the head coach at Arkansas State from 1995 to 2008 and Southeast Missouri State from 2009 to 2015.Â
Gates has called Nutt his "accountability partner."Â
"He gives me an unbelievable set of tools to use," Gates said.
He added his own message to an outpouring of support for Nutt on X.
"With you every step of the way, Coach," Gates wrote. "We love you!"
"An absolute true gentleman with the most incredible heart," MU athletics director Desiree Reed-Francois wrote. "Coach Nutt, you are in our prayers. We fight alongside you."
Cancer awareness has long been a cause dear to the Missouri program. Legendary MU coach Norm Stewart, who also stepped away from coaching for a time after a colon cancer diagnosis in 1989, has organized the that started by encouraging fans to donate for every 3-pointer made before evolving into a nationwide effort.
Coaches vs. Cancer celebrated its 30th anniversary in November. The program has raised more than $155 million for the American Cancer Society.