Connors State will play its first basketball game without Ethan Dietz on Monday. The Cowboys will also play without head coach Bill Muse and two other assistant coaches. Women’s basketball head coach Jaylen Thompson will coach the men’s team for the rest of the season. This major coaching change happened after Dietz’s tragic death.
According to Bro Bible, the Oklahoma Office of the Chief Medical Examiner has not released its official report on Dietz’s death yet. The official cause of death is still unknown. However, the sophomore forward died in the hospital just days after he was rushed to the emergency room with a head injury.
Dietz took a blow to the head during a game at Grayson College on Nov. 22. He showed clear signs of discomfort and needed help from a teammate to leave the court. But the coaching staff let him back into the game after only two minutes on the bench.
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Muse has a troubling history with head injuries
Dietz was clearly dazed and confused on the court. Muse allowed him to keep playing until Dietz took himself out of the game with about 12 minutes left in the second half. The 20-year-old then sat alone on the bench with a towel over his head. He was rushed to the hospital when the team returned to campus and died three days later.
This was not the first time Muse allowed a player to compete despite clear concussion signs. Muse also serves as the athletic director at Connors State and has a history of neglect when it comes to head injuries.
Players have been allowed to play through obvious concussions before. Similar concerns about player safety have emerged in other sports, with some athletes facing uncertainty about their team futures amid roster changes.
The school decided not to continue its basketball season right after Dietz’s death. The Cowboys did not play their five scheduled games from Nov. 26 through Dec. 8 during the holiday break. They will return to the court at home on Monday against Redlands Community College.
Muse and two assistant coaches will not be there. Connors State placed them on leave. The school said Muse is taking a break from coaching and athletic director duties for the rest of the season for personal reasons. Two other assistant coaches are also on personal leave. While some coaches face scrutiny for their decisions, others are thriving despite ranking high in turnovers in their respective leagues.
The decision not to fire these coaches yet likely comes from the lack of an official report. It would be difficult to fire a coach and athletic director without a completed investigation. They will stay away from the program until the official report is released.
Published: Jan 4, 2026 12:15 pm