Posted on: Saturday, September 7, 2002

UH's Wallace 'doing well' following brain surgery

Advertiser Staff

Riley Wallace is listed in fair condition in intensive care. Advertiser library photo

University of Hawai'i men's basketball coach Riley Wallace is alert and awake after undergoing brain surgery yesterday in Las Vegas, according to a University Medical Center spokesman.

Wallace, 60, underwent a two-hour craniotomy to remove two subdural hematomas. He is listed in fair condition in intensive care. A hematoma is a swelling filled with blood.

"He has responded well to the surgery and is doing well," hospital spokesman Rick Plummer said. "He is awake and alert, talking to family and friends."

"We're glad everything went well and it sounds like he'll have a full recovery," UH athletic director Herman Frazier said.

For the next 48 hours, Wallace will have a tube inserted in his head to drain excess fluid.

Joan Wallace said her husband woke up yesterday morning complaining of a severe headache. She said he felt dizzy, and had difficulty standing.

He was taken to the medical center, where he underwent several medical tests. Joan Wallace said her husband was diagnosed with a hematoma that was putting pressure on his brain.

She said her husband had complained of headaches for three weeks and that doctors suspected the hematoma was caused by a bump.

Wallace was scheduled to travel to Utah yesterday to attend the UH football team's nationally televised game against Brigham Young.