(Cedar Falls, IA) – UNI Panther Austin Phyfe will medically retire from Panther basketball and give up his final year of basketball eligibility. The Iowa native missed the entire 2023 season due to his diagnosis of pulmonary embolism which led to emergency surgery in June of last year to remove blood clots from his lungs.
Phyfe appeared in 121 career games for UNI and averaged 7.6 points per game and 4.6 rebounds per game and finishes his career with 923 points. He led UNI in field goal percentage and in blocked shots from 2020-22 and led the Panthers in rebounds in 2020 and 2021 while averaging 12.4 points per game in 2021. The Waverly native also earned First Team All-MVC honors in the 2019-20 season and was an NABC All-District recognition while helping the Panthers to an MVC regular season title.
Coach Ben Jacobson said, “This was not an easy decision for him, but without question, it is the correct one. It has been an extremely challenging two years for Austin, especially the past 14 months as he has worked to regain his health and pursue a way back to playing one more time. We are so grateful that his health is terrific and he’s on a great path from a health standpoint.”
While he was not able to play last year, Phyfe helped coach his teammates throughout the year and graduated in May with a degree in Elementary and Middle Education. He also earned the MVC Most Courageous Award which is given to a former athlete who demonstrates unusual courage in the face of personal illness or tragedy and whose behavior reflects honor in the conference. He will continue on to graduate school at UNI to remain involved with the program.
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