KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (AP) - Tennessee's Derek Dooley is recovering from surgery on his fractured right hip and will coach from the press box Saturday at No. 19 Mississippi State.
The school announced Tuesday that Dooley had experienced increasing pain in his right hip over the last two months. Dooley underwent an MRI on Friday that showed he had a fracture. After joining his team for its Tuesday morning practice session, Dooley underwent surgery later that afternoon.
The surgery was performed by Russell Betcher and Greg Mathien of the Knoxville Orthopedic Clinic at UT Medical Center.
Dooley said after Tuesday's practice that he had a ``little hip issue, I'll keep you updated on it,'' but did reveal that he was heading to surgery.
``I wasn't in red, but I wasn't moving like I normally move,'' quipped Dooley, referring to the red non-contact jerseys that injured players wear in practice.
Tennessee athletic department spokesman Jimmy Stanton said Dooley won't be at practice Wednesday and that it's uncertain whether he will be at Thursday's practice.
Dooley will work from the coaches' booth at the Davis Wade Stadium press conference due to limited mobility caused by the surgery. He will consult his doctors and the Tennessee sports medicine staff to see if he can return to his normal coaching duties next week.
