UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 8, 2011
PAGE 19
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FOOTBALL
Defensive coordinator coach retires after 35 years in game
BY MATTHEW GALLOWAY mgalloway@kansan.com
Defensive coordinator Carl Torbush retired from the Kansas football coaching staff June 1 after announcing that he had been diagnosed with low-grade prostate cancer.
"I don't know exactly how long it will take to get cleared up, but I've got a strong faith." Torbush said in a press conference Tuesday afternoon.
Torbush said he expects to make a full recovery and will stay in Lawrence to receive his treatment.
Cornerback coach Vic Shealy will replace Torbush as defensive coordinator, with defensive line coach Buddy Wyatt being promoted to codefensive coordinator.
"It's tough under these circumstances to be sitting up here with Carl going through what he's going through, but he's a good man and a good football coach," Wyatt said.
Upon learning of the diagnosis, Torbush decided retirement was in his family's best interest, he said. He informed head coach Turner Gill of his diagnosis and his decision three weeks ago.
"The toughest thing was going in and talking to him," Torbush said. "It was kind of like getting ready to go into the principal's office. I really didn't want to go in there, but I had to breathe deep and go in there to do what I needed to do. And that was a tough, tough meeting."
Gill said he was initially shocked at the news and worried about the health of a man he considers a mentor and a friend.
"When you're talking about health, you have to put all the other selfish
things away," Gill said. "I'm more concerned about his health and making sure he's going to be OK. That was a more important thing to me."
Torbush joined the coaching staff prior to last season when Gill was announced as the new head coach.
"Even though it's been a short term here, it's been a very, very important term," Gill said. "I appreciate what he's all about and I know that he is a person that will continue to have KU in his heart and in his mind."
Torbush also vacated his additional position as linebackers' coach, a void Gill said he hopes to have filled by the end of the week.
Torbush has coached for more than 35 years, including head coaching positions at Louisiana Tech (1987) and North Carolina (1998-2000), according to the Athletics Department.
With Shealy, the defense is being left in good hands, Torbush said. He feels the team is more athletic than last season as a whole and expects the program to rebound soon.
"I know the word patience is not really in the English vocabulary anymore, but that's what I think needs to happen," Torbush said. "A couple more years of recruiting here and you are going to see some great things happen."
Chris Bronson/KANSAN FILE PHOTO
Defensive coordinator Carl Torbush announces his retirement last week at a press conference at the Anderson Family Football Complex. Torbush retired due to health reasons, and he had more than 35 years of experience in coaching football.
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