EOU football head coach Jim Fenwick seeks cancer treatment; Baker named interim head coach

Published: April 1, 2004

EOU Athletic Department
541-962-3364 / fax 541-962-3577

Jim Fenwick

La Grande -- The Eastern Oregon University Athletic Department announced that Mountaineer head football coach Jim Fenwick began a leave of absence today in order to seek aggressive cancer treatment in Seattle, Wash. Fenwick, who was diagnosed with leukemia last November, has been undergoing treatment in Walla Walla, Wash.

"It is a very critical time for Jim right now," said Rob Cashell, director of athletics. "His physicians are working hard to attempt to get his leukemia into a state of remission and to identify a suitable donor for a bone marrow transplant. In order to fight this to the best of his abilities, Jim needs a concentrated period of time with his doctors."

The EOU Athletic Department and ERA Driggers are planning a donor-specific blood drive in order to see if any matches can be found. Twenty-five donors are required in order for the Red Cross to send a team to La Grande to administer the tests. The cost of the test is $65. If you have an interest in taking part in the program or sponsoring someone please, contact Rob Cashell at rcashell@eou.edu or Brenda Jackson at bjackson@uwtc.net.

Travis Baker

Fenwick has been the Mountaineers' head coach the past two seasons and has been responsible for the steady improvement of the program on and off the field.

Current Defensive Coordinator Travis Baker has been named interim head coach, said Cashell. Fenwick hired Baker in 2002 after successfully completing his graduate assistantship at Utah State University and coaching on the Aggies' staff under head coach Mick Dennehy.

"Travis Baker is an exceptional coach and person," said Cashell. "I have complete confidence in his abilities to handle the day-to-day operations of the football program while coach Fenwick is undergoing treatment."

Eastern anticipates that Fenwick will return as head coach once his leukemia is in remission.

The Mountaineers will be participating in spring drills for the first time in many years as a result of the switch to NAIA affiliation after spending eight years as a dual affiliate in NCAA Division III and the NAIA. The program was also accepted into the Frontier Conference for membership this past December.

Contact Information

University Advancement Eastern Oregon University One University Boulevard La Grande, OR 97850 phone 541.962.3740 fax 541.962.3680 email University Advancement