The wife of University of Tennessee assistant football coach William Inge provided an update amid her husband’s ongoing health battle.
“This is Rae Ann, thank you for all your calls, texts etc to his phone and fb. Bill is fighting and please pray for him,” Rae Ann Pierce-Inge posted via her husband’s Instagram on Sunday, September 27. “I’m sorry I can’t get back to all of you. We are focused on his health and our family at this time.”
William, 52, and Rae Ann share three children: son Isaiah, 20, a defensive lineman at Tennessee, and daughters Keara, 17, and Raya, 16.
Last week, the University of Tennessee announced that William, the team’s linebackers coach, had been hospitalized with an undisclosed ailment.
“William Inge has been in the hospital dealing with a personal medical issue,” the school said in a statement on Thursday, September 24. “Coach Inge and his family appreciate your prayers and support, and we ask that you respect their privacy at this time.”
The coach was noticeably absent from the sidelines when Tennessee played Kennesaw State on September 19. William was also not on site when the Volunteers hosted Texas on Saturday, September 26.
William said he was “resting comfortably” in a statement released on Friday, September 25.
“I appreciate everyone’s thoughts and prayers,” William noted. He added, “I am fighting this illness just like our team fights on Saturdays on the field. I look forward to supporting our team and wish them well tomorrow.”
Tennessee fell to No. 1 Texas, 20-17, in Knoxville on Saturday.
After the game, Tennessee head coach Josh Heupel said William’s condition “kind of turned serious in the middle part of the week.”
“He’s a fighter. He’s tough,” Heupel, 48, continued. “He believes in the power of prayer. We’re lifting him up in prayer. I know our fans are, too. He’s got a real fight on his hands still, but he’s had some positive news.”
Heupel called the circumstances “emotional for everybody inside of our program.”
“At the same time, I thought our guys did a good job of not completely forgetting about what’s going on with him because that is really important, but they were able to focus, too,” the head coach added. “We’ve just got to be better as a football team. I look forward to seeing him soon.”
Tennessee returns to action when they host Auburn on Saturday, October 3.
