Medical emergencies can’t keep new Dunlap coach from summer debut

PEORIA, Ill. (WMBD/WYZZ) — After years as an assistant coach, Ryan Julius has a new gig.

He’s now the head basketball coach at Dunlap, coaching his team for the first time last weekend at the Richwoods Shootout, a two-day summer basketball tournament.

“Being able to call my own shots is definitely different. I have a great staff,” said Julius. “We’re excited to give these kids everything we’ve got.”

Julius is a mainstay on the local golf scene as one of the area’s top players. He won a state title as Notre Dame High School’s boys golf coach five years ago.

And this spring was an assistant coach to Layne Langholf on Notre Dame’s state title-winning girls basketball team. He was also an assistant coach at Peoria High and has coached on the summer AAU circuit.

But he almost didn’t make his debut as Dunlap’s head coach. On May 18, he had a major health scare.

“I had to drive myself to the ER. I had complications with an underlying gut issue that I’ve evidently lived with forever,” Julius said. “While I was in (the hospital), I got things figured out. I came out feeling better than I had in 20 years. By God’s grace I’m here.”

Julius says his wife also had a medical emergency regarding her bladder this spring. He says he lost about 20 pounds during the stress of his family’s medical issues.

“I was down 20 (pounds) and anybody that knows me knows I don’t have 20 pounds to lose,” “Julius said. “I’ve gained ten (pounds) back because I’m eating like crazy. We are going to find out exactly what’s going on. Might be something I deal with the rest of my life.”

All of this on top of rehabbing a knee injury he suffered while playing in a pick-up basketball game couple of months ago. He tore his ACL and says his knee will get some attention later this summer.

For now, Julius is glad he can start focusing on his basketball team and on the task of getting his players ready to do battle this season.

“My family has been blessed with what we have been presented in Peoria,” Julius said. “I want to give back to the community. These Dunlap kids are great and I’m excited for the future.”

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