Goshen College head men’s basketball coach Neal Young will take a temporary medical leave of absence from his duties, the athletic department announced Tuesday afternoon. Second-year assistant Brandon Lokken will take over as acting head coach.

Young was tabbed as the 14th head coach of the Maple Leafs last April, just two years removed from a three-year stint as an assistant with the program. Just three months later, he was suddenly diagnosed with T-cell Lymphoblastic Lymphoma. (Read more about Young’s diagnosis and his preparations for this season).

Since that summer diagnosis, Young has been undergoing a series of rigorous treatments. At the advice of his doctors, Young has decided that his best next step in the healing process will be to take some time to recover.

After six years on the staff at Lake Superior State University (NCAA DII) in Michigan, Lokken is in his second year at Goshen College. He assumes the head coaching duties for the Leafs beginning with tonight’s contest against NAIA DII #13 Indiana Wesleyan University.

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