"Care for Coach O" website established to assist former coach John Oldham's recovery

COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – A fall in early December has injured Tennessee Tech Hall of Fame basketball coach John Oldham, and his recovery has placed difficult financial demands on his family. To assist in covering those expenses, a website has been established to update information concerning Oldham’s condition as well as receive get well messages and online financial gifts in his support.

Former Golden Eagle player Frank Cardwell has reached out to the Cookeville community and the Tennessee Tech Athletics staff, which in turn is helping to spread the word about the website.

“On Dec. 2, 2015, Coach John Oldham fell from a 10-foot ladder at his home onto a concrete driveway and suffered multiple fractures in his face. He also broke bones in both arms and had multiple lacerations and bruises on his arms and legs,”
 Cardwell said in a letter to the editor, published in the Cookeville Herald-Citizen. “He broke and fractured almost every bone in his face and suffered a concussion.”

After spending a few days at a hospital in Nashville, much of the time in the trauma ICU, Oldham moved to a life care center on Christmas eve. Eventually, he was relocated to Christian Health Center in Bowling Green, Ky., on Jan. 6.

“The folks at eh facility has demonstrated great personal care and affection for Coach and he has had many visitors and get well wishes,” Cardwell states. “The facility is conveniently located for daily visits from his family for encouragement and support.”

Cardwell adds that the financial demands, beyond insurance coverage of his hospitalization, surgeries, medications and rehabilitation, are substantial and “more than the family can meet.”

The former player is “reaching out to Coach Oldham’s many friends, fans and former colleagues and players for any additional assistance they can provide.”

Online information and donations can be made at CareForCoachO.com. Donations can also be mailed to: Franklin Bank and Trust, c/o Care For Coach O account, Box 449, Franklin, Ky., 42135.