Oklahoma collegiate basketball player Ethan Dietz, 20, has died days after sustaining a head injury during a game. The sophomore from Connors State College passed away on Tuesday, November 25, following an incident on November 22.
Dietz was injured in the second half of a game played in Texas. Initial reports indicate he suffered a head injury, according to a spokesperson for Connors State College who spoke to ESPN.
Video footage from the game shows Dietz appearing to receive an elbow to the head during a play. He fell behind the basket and visibly reacted in pain, touching his head.
A teammate helped Dietz to his feet and assisted him to the bench. He remained out of the game for several minutes.
Despite the apparent head trauma, Dietz re-entered the game approximately two minutes later, according to the live broadcast.
Minutes after returning, Dietz signaled his coach and touched his head again. He presumably requested to be taken out of the game. At the next stoppage, he went to the bench and did not play for the rest of the match.
After the game, Dietz remained on the bench during team handshakes. He ultimately needed assistance from a teammate to exit the bench area and reach the locker room.
Upon the team’s return to Oklahoma, emergency medical services were called to the campus. They responded to reports of an “unconscious person” around 9:16 PM local time. Dietz was transported to a hospital in Tulsa, about 30 minutes from campus, where he later died. This information comes from a report by KNWA Fox 24.
Connors State College confirmed Dietz’s passing in a statement. The school declared, “Ethan exemplified what it means to be a Cowboy, valuing hard work and being part of a team.” It added that the team and community stood in solidarity with his family and friends.
Head coach Bill Muse also released a statement, saying Dietz was “the type of player a coach always hopes for.” Muse praised Dietz’s athletic and academic talent, noting his understanding of hard work.
In the wake of Dietz’s death, the university canceled several men’s and women’s basketball games. A vigil in his honor is scheduled for Monday, December 1, on the university campus in Oklahoma.
Landon Mannion, a friend and classmate, spoke to KJRH-TV in Tulsa about Dietz. Mannion recalled meeting Dietz in eighth grade and maintaining their friendship through high school.
Mannion described their first encounter: “The first day he came to class, he sat next to me and I started making fun of him and he talked back and I said, ‘You’re my friend and we’re going to be together’.”
Mannion and his mother, Amber, visited Dietz in the hospital before he died. Amber told KJRH-TV, “Dietz became one of mine because he was Landon’s friend. He touched so many lives. He just brought so much to the room.”
Landon added, “I’m not much of a crier, but there were a lot of tears.”
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