Kenny Arnold dealt with a personal tragedy in the way he competed in Big Ten basketball. He battled his opponent and he won.

Arnold, currently a graduate assistant on Jim Rosborough’s men’s basketball staff at NIU, discovered he had a brain tumor in 1984, two years after his college career with the Iowa Hawkeyes ended.

Despite the life-threatening illness and not having insurance to pay for medical bills, Arnold beat the odds and is looking to the future.

“First of all, I started having seizures and there was no trace of seizures in my family,” he said. “The doctor kept asking me if I got hit in the head when I was little. Then they diagnosed it as a brain tumor.

“At first I was scared. That was my initial reaction. It was like, ‘How could this happen to me?’ I was a healthy guy. I was down at first and then I said, ‘I’m going to beat this.’ I had a very positive attitude.”

Arnold had surgery to remove the tumor at University Hospital in Iowa City. Afterward he underwent strenuous chemotherapy and radiation treatment. Arnold said it was during his two-week stay at the hospital when he realized how many friends and fans he had.

“Friends, family, people around Iowa City and people elsewhere really helped pull me through,” Arnold said. “I got letters and cards from all over the country. It was something. It was really touching.”

After the surgery, one problem remained for Arnold—how to pay the $42,000 medical bill. Rosborough, then an Iowa assistant, the Iowa Athletic Department, a local radio station and former teammates planned a way to alleviate Arnold’s financial problems.

“They had a benefit game for me.” he said. “It paid for all of it.”

“Our goal (with the game) was to cover his medical expenses and give him a cushion.” Rosborough said. “If worse came to worse and he had three months left (to live) and he wanted to go to Hawaii or something, then that’s what the extra cushion was for.

“The whole state rallied around this young man. We needed to give him something in return for what he had given to us.”

The former Iowa point guard is healthy now, but must return every three months for a checkup and a CT scan.

“I’m fine now,” he said. “The CT scan I saw last was amazing. There wasn’t anything there.”

Arnold credits his girlfriend, Jody, and his family, along with Rosborough as being the people who really helped him get through his tragedy. He said he has benefited from his experience.

“I appreciate life more,” he said. “I think I’ve become a stronger person. I always had my faith. My religion helped get me through it.”

Arnold graduated from Iowa with a degree in general studies, and now is working on a master’s degree in sports administration at NIU.

osborough, who first met Arnold while recruiting him at Calumet High School in Chicago, explained why he asked Arnold to be an assistant coach on the team.

“I’ve always liked Kenny,” Rosborough said. “He knows basketball. He relates well to young people and he’s a good role model. He’s a good role model because of the example he set with his athletics, academics and by beating his illness.”

During his four years at Iowa, Arnold was a three-time All-Big Ten selection (twice honorable mention, once third-team). He also led the Hawkeyes to a Final Four and four NCAA tournament berths.

In 1982, he was chosen by the Dallas Mavericks in the fifth round of the NBA draft, but he was cut a short time later.

“It was nice (to have the chance to play),” he said. “The Mavericks are a first-class operation. I had really planned on playing, though.”

Upon being cut, Arnold played for the Wisconsin Flyers of the Continental Basketball Association for less than a year. He then decided to play overseas. Arnold failed at that effort because no team wanted a guard from the United States. The teams basically wanted the taller players and he was only 6-foot-2.

Although he said he still wanted to play pro ball, Arnold realized his career was almost over. With the brain tumor came the end of his dream. Arnold has decided to remain in the sport and plans to make college coaching his life.

osborough said he thinks Arnold, once he gains experience, will win that battle, too.

“He needs some work, but he has all the qualities you need to coach,” Rosborough said. “He’s a very dedicated person. He’s a winner.”