Cincinnati's Mick Cronin will not coach for the remainder of the season while dealing with a non-life-threatening vascular condition known as arterial dissection.
Cronin was diagnosed with the condition in mid-December when, during a routine checkup after complaining of lingering headaches, an unruptured aneurysm was discovered by doctors.
He told ESPN.com last week that he was feeling "great," but wasn't sure when doctors would clear him to coach again this season.
"I need to keep a normal blood pressure. That and rest are the two keys for my healing so I can't overdo it," Cronin said in a text message Friday. "I have to be smart. The best case [scenario] is in 11 weeks I will have my next scan and I'm all healed up and life goes back to normal.''
Cronin, 43, will not be able to coach practices or games this season, but will continue to run the program.
He won't attend home games but will start out practice before leaving. He said he would watch the games at home. Cronin can take walks but can't work out.
"I will be able to recruit," he said. "I will run the program and game plan with the staff. I can advise and support. I will meet with the team. I will do everything but coach practice and games.''
Cronin, who has led Cincinnati to four consecutive NCAA tournament appearances, has been advised to rest and avoid stress.
Cronin has missed the past three games against VCU, Wagner and NC State while awaiting further test results and treatment options. Associate head coach Larry Davis, who was the head coach at Furman from 1998 to 2006, will take Cronin's place as the acting head coach.
Cronin said he first started getting headaches in the back of his head during the Bearcats' game at Nebraska on Dec 13.
"I knew then that something wasn't right," he said by phone from his UC office later Friday.
"The headaches were bad."
Cronin said he was feeling better for the San Diego State game four days later but still was concerned.
"It was all on my right side," he said.
Two days later, on Dec. 19, a night before the Bearcats hosted VCU, Cronin said he had a two-hour MRI from 10 p.m. to midnight.
Cronin said he came out and was told by his neurologist he would have to be held out from that Saturday's game. Cronin said the neurologist was worried he would fight doctors on sitting out and resting.
"I have an 8-year-old daughter, and she needs her dad, so there was no decision," Cronin said. "I didn't have an aneurysm. I had a small tear [vascular dissection]. I need to let it heal."
Cronin said he doesn't have high blood pressure but is taking medicine to ensure it isn't high. He will also take aspirin.
"I didn't have a blockage," Cronin said. "I feel totally fine now."
"I wasn't a nervous wreck because they were reassuring me," Cronin said of the CT scan, MRI and angiogram. "If I'm the guy that walks out with medicine and rest and no surgery, I'll take it. I'm still here in the office meeting with the staff. I still need to be smart. My job is to make Larry Davis coach of the year."
Cronin said he feels well enough to go recruiting Saturday night.
"The prognosis is excellent," Dr. Norberto Andaluz, the UC Health director of Neurosurgery, said in the statement. "An important part of Mr. Cronin's treatment and recovery includes rest, medication and keeping a normal blood pressure."
Added Dr. Mario Zuccarello: "We are optimistic in this case. Coach Cronin's career is not jeopardized by this condition and we all look forward to seeing him back on the court next season and enjoying a long successful career thereafter."