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Darrell Mossburg, the Airport girls basketball coach, was named Coach of the Year after a health scare where he collapsed before a game. He experienced severe abdominal pain but prioritized his team's well-being during the incident.
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CARLETON – Death was not an option. Darrell Mossburg had too many reasons to live.
The Airport girls basketball coach collapsed in a school hallway before a game in early December.
It was a shock to the fit, 56-year-old physical education teacher at Flat Rock.
More: Airport's girls basketball season ends with loss in quarterfinals
“I had severe abdominal pain,” Mossburg recalled. “I didn’t want the kids to see me like that. They got me into the teacher’s lounge. Luckily my wife (Lori) was there.”
The news got worse.
“I had a blockage in my intestine and the main artery to my aorta was blocked,” he said. “They couldn’t help me.”
Airport girls basketball coach Darrell Mossburg high-fives his assistant coaches following a 68-60 victory over Dearborn Divine Child in the finals of the Division 2 Regional that Divine Child hosted on Wednesday, March 11, 2026.
Doctors finally figured out a course of action.
“They gave me the end-of-life speech and rushed me into surgery,” he said. “They didn’t know if I was going to make it out.”
Right before he was wheeled in, his daughter, Chelsea Raisinen, revealed to him that she was pregnant with her first child.
His daughter-in-law Jessie Mossburg also is expecting.
Thoughts of becoming a grandfather for the first time gave him determination.
“That kind of changed my state of mind,” he said. “I had to see those grandkids.”
And he also had to see his other “kids” again.
This year’s Airport team was his best squad in 32 years of coaching (16 as a head coach). Mossburg has guided them through many ups and down. Four seniors on the team were four-year starters.
The story has a happy ending.
Darrell Mossburg experienced severe abdominal pain and collapsed in a school hallway.
He was recognized as Coach of the Year for his leadership and dedication to the Airport girls basketball team.
The Airport girls basketball team ended their season with a loss in the quarterfinals.
Mossburg's wife, Lori, was present and helped him after he collapsed in the teacher's lounge.

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Mossburg stayed close to the team during his recovery, helping assistant Luke Baker with practice and game plans. He was finally cleared to resume his role as head coach in time for the state tournament.
Airport enjoyed the greatest season in school history, going undefeated in the Huron league in crafting a 24-3 record, winning a regional title for the first time and reaching the state quarterfinals before getting derailed by defending champion Tecumseh.
Airport girls basketball coach Darrell Mossburg talks to his team during a 60-50 win over Flat Rock in the finals of the Division 2 Girls Basketball District at Flat Rock on Friday, March 6, 2026.
Mossburg has been named Monroe County Region Girls Basketball Coach of the Year.
“I saw these girls in the fourth or fifth grade and knew they could be one of the better teams we’ve ever had,” he said. “It turned out to be a fabulous year for everyone involved.”
Fabulous and frightening.
Doctors made a startling discovery during Mossburg’s emergency surgery in December.
“My body had created new arteries to the intestine to get the blood flowing,” he said. “A CAT scan found four new arteries forming. To keep it simple, I tell people I had a severe heart attack. But what I had was very rare. They called me Case 168.”
It might be described another way.
“You could call it a miracle,” he said.
His team helped him through the recovery.
Acting Airport girls basketball coach Luke Baker talks to his team during a 65-22 victory over Ann Arbor Pioneer on Thursday, Feb. 26, 2026.
“SMCC (Dec. 18) was the first game I was able to watch in the hospital,” he said. “It was a little different. I knew I had to do whatever it took to get back.”
The team visited him about a week later.
“It was very emotional when the kids came to see me a day or two before Christmas,” Mossburg said. “They all came together right after practice.”
By Dec. 29, doctors allowed Mossburg to attend an Airport game.
Baker took over as interim coach.
“Luke puts in a lot of time for our program,” Mossburg said. “He watches film and does a great job scouting. I knew they were in great hands while I rested.”
Mossburg often attended practices and sat on the bench for many games before taking the reins again in March.
“One of my goals was always to get back before the end of the season,” he said. “I knew we had a special team this year. Obviously, I didn’t want to miss it. Life can throw you some curveballs, but you’ve got to keep pushing.”
Mossburg’s family tried to make sure he didn’t push too hard, too soon.
His daughter is an assistant coach for the team and his wife kept the scorebook for his first few games back.
“The doctors were concerned about my blood pressure,” he said. “Chelsea and Lori tried to keep me calmed down.”
Has this experience changed Mossburg?
“Some will say, ‘No, it hasn’t,’” he said with a chuckle. “It does make me respect each day more. If you are able to wake up each morning and put your feet on the ground, you have to try to have a great day.
“This made me appreciate things more.”
This article originally appeared on The Monroe News: Airport basketball coach Darrell Mossburg shaped by near-death episode