The book on … Eric Coley

Sporting News, The, Feb 21, 2000 by Whit Canning

Tulsa F, 6-5/210, Senior

When Tulsa opened its season at Rhode Island, Eric Coley led the Golden Hurricane to a 91-66 victory with 19 points. Most in the arena had no way of knowing Coley had just stepped off a plane, joining the team late after serving as a pallbearer at his cousin's funeral.

That win was the start of what has become a scintillating run for deep and versatile Tulsa, which is 22-2 and 7-1 in the WAC.

Though Coley is tough enough on the court, that really isn't what coach Bill Self is referring to when he describes the forward as "the toughest person rye ever coached." His cousin's suicide was the latest in a string of tragedies that has left Coley, 22, sadly wise beyond this years, "I sort of have an attitude that nothing can hurt me anymore," Coley says.

More than two years ago, his mom began an agonizing battle with cancer. Her death and the pain she suffered left him devastated. Then an uncle, who had a young son, was diagnosed with cancer and died. Coley began driving more than an hour home to Eufaula, Okla., every day after school to be with his nephew, then driving back the next day. He developed anemia and missed four games his sophomore season.

In the midst of it, Coley and his longtime girlfriend had a son--Eric Jr.--and began raising a child while working on their degrees. Now, another uncle has leukemia, and Coley admits it is impossible to ignore that "on my mother's side, nine of 14 siblings have died of cancer or been operated on for it."

Through it all, he has become one of the nation's most versatile and effective players.

Coley, who also owns three horses and is an accomplished calf roper, is tied for third on the team in scoring with 11.4 points a game, but the points come in spurts, when the team needs them most. He ranks sixth in the nation in steals (3.3 apg), leads Tulsa in rebounds (6.2 rpg), is second in blocked shots (30) and ranks third in assists (3.1 apg).