Nobody saw this coming, not right now in the middle of the season.

Least of all the Utah basketball players.

While many folks figured Rick Majerus' long successful run at the University of Utah might be nearing an end, his players had no idea he wouldn't be with them through the end of this season.

Nick Jacobson, one of two Ute seniors on the team, was very emotional when told the news by his wife, Amy, who works in the U. athletic department.

"I was shocked — it was hard to swallow," he said. "I'd be lying if I said I didn't get emotional about it. I felt like an orphan in practice today."

For Byrant Markson, a sophomore forward, the news hit especially hard since he had just returned from California where he attended his uncle's funeral.

"My head was spinning — I didn't know what to think," he said. "I just kind of sunk down in my seat. I'm going to miss him."

The news of Majerus' decision to leave his job immediately and not to coach beyond this season because of health reasons came via a press release issued by the U. Wednesday morning. He wasn't available for comment and was reportedly under observation at the Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital.

Majerus, who compiled a 323-95 record in 15 seasons at Utah, took the Utes to the pinnacle of college basketball, the 1998 NCAA Championship Game in San Antonio. He also led the Utes to 10 regular-season conference titles and 10 trips to the NCAA tournament, where the Utes only lost once in the first round.

While Utah athletic director Chris Hill said "every year is a stressful year for coaches," this seemed to be an especially stressful one for Majerus.

After Monday night's 62-49 loss to Air Force, Majerus had flown back from Denver Tuesday afternoon on the same plane as a Deseret Morning News reporter and seemed to be OK at that time. Apparently at dinner that night, he had some chest pains and numbness in his arm.

Bob Henderson, a longtime friend who's also the coach's legal counsel, said he was at dinner with Majerus when the coach had pain radiating down his arm. They were going to call Kent Jones, Majerus' heart surgeon in Salt Lake, but he was out of town. So they called his cardiologist in Santa Barbara, who Henderson preferred not to name, and he told Majerus to come down there that night. Obviously it wasn't life-threatening or else he wouldn't have made the flight, according to Henderson, but it was necessary because of Majerus' health.

"He hasn't looked well for a long time," said Henderson. "His color hasn't been good and he's been getting bigger."