He collapsed while playing basketball in Philadelphia

Monday, May 09, 2005

The Western Kentucky mens basketball team received harsh news early this morning when it was informed of the death of Danny Rumph.

Rumph was at home in Philadelphia when he collapsed Sunday while playing basketball and later died. He was 21 years old.

We are shocked and saddened by the tragic news we received this morning, WKU coach Darrin Horn said in a statement. Danny was loved and respected, by not only everyone in the basketball program, but by many people in the Western community. Our thoughts and prayers are with Dannys family.

Horn was traveling to Philadelphia this morning and was unavailable for further comment.

This is tough, teammate Courtney Lee said. He was like a brother to me and everybody (on the team.) Everybody loved him.

Georgia coach Dennis Felton, who recruited Rumph and coached him during his freshman year at WKU, said he was a special, special person.

Im blessed to have had the opportunity to coach him, Felton said. He was a young man that came from a beautiful family. He was very, very good about cherishing every opportunity he had.

The official cause of death will not likely be released until an autopsy is performed, according to Brian Fremund, WKU director of athletic media relations.

Rumphs passing took the entire athletic department by surprise.

Youre never prepared to hear this kind of information, athletics director Wood Selig said. Its very, very shocking and extremely saddening.

Rumph started 29 of the Toppers 31 games this past season. He averaged 9.1 points and 3.3 rebounds.

He would have been one of four returning starters from a team that went 22-9 and won an opening round game in the National Invitational Tournament.

During his time at Western, Rumph earned the reputation of being one of the hardest workers on the team.

I saw that from him right away, Felton said. He had a tremendous work ethic and was very driven. It was a real pleasure to have coached him.

Rumph was also a star in the classroom, according to Burt Tucker, who was an assistant coach under Felton while Rumph was a freshman.

He was a classic overachiever, Tucker said. He earned everything he got. He put a lot of extra hours in. If you set up a tutor for him, he was there and he went to work. I ran the study halls there and never had a problem with Danny.

A drop box has been placed in the mens basketball office for anyone who would like to leave cards, notes or condolences for Rumphs family and teammates.

Counselors will be available at Western for any students who feel the need to talk about Rumphs passing.

We have a tremendous on-campus network of support, Selig said. Weve got psychologists who are on staff for all of our students not just our student athletes who may seek assistance in dealing with their grief regarding Dannys passing.

Funeral arrangements were incomplete at press time.

The university will be planning some sort of memorial in the future, Selig said.

Thats so far down the road that we havent talked about that, Selig said. At the appropriate time, though, we will absolutely do something.

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