MONROE — The athletic stage is smaller, but the health challenge is similar for Lemon-Monroe High School football coach John Singleton. His recent heart problems have him thinking these days about UC basketball coach Bob Huggins.

Lemon-Monroe High School football coach John Singleton watches practice from a golf cart. (Tony Jones photo) | ZOOM |

Mr. Huggins' heart attack last weekend hit home for Mr. Singleton, who had to leave the Hornets' sidelines in August after a stress test showed serious heart congestion. Soon after, doctors performed quadruple bypass surgery.

The operation was successful, but four days later Mr. Singleton, who at 49 is the same age as Mr. Huggins, suffered a stroke that caused partial loss of muscle control on his left side.

Now the former 340-pound coach, who is also Monroe's athletic director, is down to 305 pounds thanks to rehabilitation, exercise, a drastically altered diet and a new outlook on life.

The Hornets have struggled this season and remain winless in six games. Tonight Monroe takes on Talawanda at home.

“I always wanted to lose weight, but not this way,” joked the veteran coach, who before this year worked as an assistant principal in Middletown schools after an earlier stint as Lemon-Monroe's head coach.

He laughs while describing the day's lunch. “I had broccoli, carrots, steamed cabbage and cottage cheese. I've given fast food the boot out of my life.”

Other changes include using a golf cart to move about during practice, a less-stressful coaching style on field and a reduced work schedule. They are adjustments, he said, that the notoriously hot-headed Mr. Huggins might want to consider.

“I'd tell him to fight the frustration levels. Don't let it get to you so much,” said Mr. Singleton. “And he'll probably want to push his rehab but you have to take the time to let your body heal.”

“We were stunned when we heard about this heart problems,” said Monroe senior football player Jared Nerenberg. “It's a real boost to have him back.”

Mr. Singleton said he's “very happy to be back with the kids and the coaches. I feel like I'm contributing again.”

E-mail mclark@enquirer.com

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