PROVO, Utah – Former BYU basketball head coach Dave Rose is currently in a hospital after suffering a stroke on New Year’s Eve.

The entire BYU Athletics family wishes to offer its collective faith and prayers in behalf of longtime coach Dave Rose and the Rose family, after Coach Rose suffered a stroke Thursday. (1/2) pic.twitter.com/UtvkM2Tm4p

— BYU Basketball (@BYUbasketball) January 2, 2021

Dave Rose hospitalized after suffering stroke

BYU athletics issued a statement on Coach Rose’s current health status.

The entire BYU Athletics family wishes to offer its collective faith and prayers in behalf of longtime BYU men’s basketball coach Dave Rose and the Rose family, after Coach Rose suffered a stroke Thursday.

Coach Rose is currently stabilized in the hospital. The Rose family expressed appreciation for the love and support they have received, and would ask for your continued faith and prayers in Coach Rose’s behalf.

Rose coached at BYU for 14 seasons and put together a legendary career with the Cougars, winning 348 games. He retired after the 2018-19 season. The 348 wins in Dave Rose’s tenure as head coach is second all-time in BYU basketball history.

Current BYU basketball head coach Mark Pope tweeted, “Lee Anne and I have such deep love and gratitude for Coach and Cheryl. They have been incredibly generous mentors and friends. They have given their whole heart to BYU. They have brought so much joy to so many people for so many years. We are praying for Coach and his family.”

Lee Anne and I have such deep love and gratitude for Coach and Cheryl. They have been incredibly generous mentors and friends. They have given their whole heart to BYU. They have brought so much joy to so many people for so many years. We are praying for Coach and his family.

— Mark Pope (@CoachMarkPope) January 2, 2021

Jimmer Fredette, the 2011 National Player of the Year, who played for Rose from 2007-2011, tweeted, “Our thoughts and prayers are with coach and his family right now. He’s one of the best men I know. Such a fighter.”

Coach Rose has always been a fighter when facing setbacks with his health. In 2009, Rose was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and triumphed over what at the time of his diagnosis was viewed as a “death sentence.” To this day, Rose continues to have procedures to make sure cancer hasn’t returned.

Since being diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, Rose and his wife, Cheryl, have been activists fighting against cancer. While at BYU, the Rose’s put together the Children with Cancer Christmas Foundation. After retiring from BYU, the couple hosts an event called “Golf To Eradicate Cancer,” with all donations benefitting the Huntsman Cancer Foundation.

Last year, Rose recovered after suffering a “severe” and “major” heart attack that sent him to the hospital 15 months ago.

Since he retired from BYU in March of 2019, Rose continues to follow BYU basketball. Rose was in attendance last month at BYU’s home game against rival Utah at the Marriott Center.

Mitch Harper is a BYU Insider for KSLsports.com and host of the Cougar Tracks Podcast (SUBSCRIBE) and Cougar Sports Saturday (Saturday from 12–3 p.m., KSL Newsradio). Follow him on Twitter: @Mitch_Harper and the KSL Sports app.