NC State’s OC Bible diagnosed with leukemia

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP)—North Carolina State offensive coordinator Dana Bible has been diagnosed with leukemia and won’t coach the Wolfpack’s season finale against No. 23 North Carolina.

Head coach Tom O’Brien said Bible will remain in a Chapel Hill cancer center for 30 days of treatment. The school said Bible has been diagnosed with Acute Promyelocytic Leukemia.

“It’s shocking to everybody,” O’Brien said Monday. “They’re still doing tests.”

Bible, 56, didn’t travel with the Wolfpack in last weekend’s loss at Virginia Tech. O’Brien said Bible became ill last week and sought medical attention Thursday, then learned Friday he would have to skip the trip and was hospitalized that night.

“He’s a tough old guy and he’ll fight,” O’Brien said. “Prayers would be welcome, and they’re definitely needed.”

Bible also serves as N.C. State’s quarterbacks and receivers coach. He’s coached under O’Brien since 1999 when they were at Boston College.

Bible handled play-calling duties for the Wolfpack, so O’Brien said that the team will handle that “by committee” against the Tar Heels. Last week, running backs coach Jason Swepson filled in during the 38-10 loss to the Hokies.

The Wolfpack will bring back Jay Civetti to help against the Tar Heels. Civetti was a graduate assistant on offense at N.C. State in 2007 and has spent the past two years as offensive coordinator at Division III Tufts, which has concluded its season.

N.C. State (4-7, 1-6 Atlantic Coast Conference) ranks fourth in the ACC in total offense (399.2 yards) and fifth in scoring (30.5 points).

“It’s a big blow to us,” offensive guard Julian Williams said. “He has other things he has to take care of right now and we’ll take care of the football.”