By Scott Eisberg
seisberg@abcnews4.com
NORTH CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCIV) - For most coaches starting at a new program, their main concerns are relocating, recruiting and scheduling. Charleston Southern's new women's head basketball coach Fred Applin has had to deal with much more.
He's at practice now. He was there on day one, and for Fred Applin it's all about elation, not apprehension for the start.
"It's real exciting that I'm here. The staff is excited. One thing I've learned is players have opened their arms to the new coaching staff," says the longtime college coach. "I'm truly blessed. It's something I take very serious about getting physicals."
In his preseason physical, Fred Applin's doctors found something very serious, prostate cancer.
He had surgery two days later on September 6 to remove it and less than one month later, he was on the Buc Dome basketball court.
"It was a shock, my faith is in the lord, he gave me a few minutes to go, 'Alright - you've got cancer, this is what we're going to do,'" says Applin.
Fred Applin has fought and pressed on since his cancer surgery a month ago.
"Prostate cancer is something you can't play with. I'm healing, doing what doctors tell me to do. The administration is awesome here telling me to take my time."
Applin's goal is being back with his girls on day one, that goal was achieved.
"It can take several months to get back to your normal self. The doctors gave me stages of things I can and can't do. The staff has been great. They keep me on track because I want to coach here for a long time" says Applin.
Step one in doing that was taking his physical. Now the future looks bright for the Lady Bucs and their truly fearless leader.
