Missouri basketball assistant coach David "Dickey" Nutt revealed Thursday that he has been diagnosed with cancer and will begin treatment next week, which means he will step away from the team temporarily.

“After a recent checkup. I was diagnosed with cancer and will begin chemotherapy treatment in Columbia early next week. I have a great team of family, friends, colleagues, student-athletes, and doctors surrounding me, and since it is believed to be found very early, we are optimistic that I will have a full recovery,” Nutt said in a statement. “I want to encourage everyone to get regular screenings for early detection and to get educated on potential risk and warning signs. I look forward to returning to Mizzou basketball and will be cheering the team on and scouting opponents. Until then MIZ!”

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The Missouri athletic community has rallied behind Nutt as athletic director Desiree Reed-Francois, head basketball coach Dennis Gates, and numerous other coaches and players have wished the best for Nutt as he begins his treatment process.

Nutt, 64, has been with the Tigers since last season and played a key role in helping the Tigers reach the NCAA Tournament. He has over 30 years of coaching experience, including a 13-year run as Arkansas State’s head coach and a six-year tenure as the head man at Southeast Missouri State.

Houston Nutt, the former football coach at Mississippi and Arkansas, is his older brother.

This article originally appeared on Columbia Daily Tribune: Missouri basketball assistant coach Dickey Nutt diagnosed with cancer