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Detroit Consortium boys basketball coach Al Anderson. - (www.consortiumcollegeprep.com)
The passing of Detroit Consortium boys basketball coach Al Anderson has left many within the area basketball community in a state of shock and mourning.
Anderson, the 40-year-old coach of one of the top 10 teams in Class C, collapsed shortly after a home game on Saturday night against Dayton Dunbar of Ohio where he was later pronounced dead at Henry Ford Hospital.
Although the details of Anderson's death have yet to be?determined, it has been reported that Anderson was treated for cardiac sacoidosis and that he had a pace maker put it.
Still, Anderson's passing has sent shock waves beyond the Consortium community.
A little less than two weeks ago, Romulus coach Nate Oats travelled with his team to take on Consortium in a much anticipated match up that Romulus ended up winning. It is almost hard for Oats to believe that a coach of similar age with the same passion is now gone.
"He obviously took Consortium from an average program to one of the top programs in the state," Oats said. "You could tell the guys liked playing for him. Shoot, he is only a couple of years older than me. It makes you think about what is really important in life. I was even thinking about that in church this morning."
But just like many other people, Oats still isn't sure what caused Anderson's passing.
"Maybe this was something coming and we didn't know," Oats said. "Maybe there was nothing he could have done to stop it."
Having coached against each other in summer leagues, Oats noticed a change in Anderson's gusto that could have been related to his health.
"In the summers when I coached against him, I'm kind of like the little bit more intense," Oats said. "He was kind of like that in the summer. Then it just kind of seemed like he wasn't as (physically) intense on the sideline. He wasn't up and moving as much is what I mean."
Oats has already talked with his assistant coaches and other fellow head coaches in the area about Anderson's passing. All seem to share the same thoughts that he was gone too soon.
"It's kind of like they are all in a little bit of shock," Oats said. "You know, he wasn't that old."
Although Oats admits not knowing Anderson on any deeper personal levels outside of their professional relationship, he mentioned that a tragedy like this helps reminds coaches of their mission and how every day is important.
"At the end of the day, we're all just trying to make our kids better people," Oats said. "You kind of develop a?camaraderie?amongst coaches even though you are competing and trying to beat each other in games. I think the end result of what you're trying to do is develope kids into good people. As far as I could tell, he was doing a pretty good job of that."
Oats, along with many that have heard about the tragedy, send thoughts to Anderson's wife and 14-year-old daughter. Also, Oats feel for the basketball players at Consortium that will look to finish the season without its head coach.
"The kids were just happy being there," Oats said. "It almost makes you want to pull for them in the state tournament now."
Anderson had been coaching at Consortium since 2007 and, as of now, the team plans to still play its home game against Dearborn Heights Robichaud on Tuesday at 7 p.m. Consortium, ranked No. 10 in Class C in the most recent Associated Press poll, will begin the state tournament on March 4 at Detroit Edison.
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