Steve Clifford Returns With Two Stents In Heart

Two days after getting two stents inserted into his heart, Charlotte Bobcats NBA coach Steve Clifford is back at work. The former UMaine Farmington player and Woodland HS coach was at Bobcats practice Sunday and has been given clearance to coach Monday night's game against Atlanta.

Clifford felt chest pain last Thursday night and went to a Charlotte hospital. After undergoing medical tests, doctors placed two stents nto his heart to guard against blockage.

This is what Clifford told the Charlotte Observer newspaper.

"I was lucky. It was a warning sign and I've since been educated that a lot of people that have strokes or heart attacks don't get warning signs. Also fortunate that I had good doctors.They have a good plan for me and I'm going follow it and get better quickly."

The plan involves shorter work hours, at least for a while.

Clifford spent his early life in Mattawamkeag before his family moved to Vermont. He returned to Maine and a UMaine Farmington student/athlete. His first coaching job was the boys varsity team at Woodland HS.

He's been a NBA assistant coach for 13 years before getting his first head coaching job with Charlotte. Clifford had the Bobcats off to a 3-2 start. The Cats lost Friday night in New York with assistant coach Patrick Ewing running the team.

After Monday night's game against Atlanta, the Bobcats come to Boston to play the Celtics on Wednesday. You will hear that game live on Sports Radio 92.9 The Ticket at 7PM.