AUBURN, Ala. – For the Coleman family, Bruce Pearl's father-son basketball camp will forever represent life's fragility, the power of faith and the blessing of a second chance.
A year ago, Ryan Coleman and his 11-year-old son, Burke, continued their tradition of attending Pearl's camp.
While waiting to take pictures with BP at the start of the camp, Ryan received an alarming phone call. His brother, Wesley, was being airlifted to UAB after suffering a stroke. Eventually diagnosed with an enlarged heart, a transplant would be his only path to survival.
"Things did not look good at all," Ryan said.
When Pearl and Auburn men's basketball chief of staff Chad Prewett learned of Wesley Coleman's dire circumstances, they gathered with Ryan and Burke to pray for Wesley.
"That interaction that my son had with Coach Pearl and Coach Prewett, seeing the way they responded and reacted to that scenario, made a huge impact on my son," Ryan said.
At age 41, a lifelong athlete and tennis pro, Wesley's stroke and heart issues were most unexpected.
"All of it was kind of a shock," Ryan said.
Between the stroke, the wait for a new heart, surgery and recovery, Wesley spent 99 days in the hospital, finally coming home to Alexander City on Sept. 22, 2022.
"The hardest part for me was not seeing my family," Wesley said.
Knowing that his opportunity to continue living would happen only when another life ended, Wesley overflows with gratitude while advocating for organ donation.
"The donor saved my life," he said. "If you're not a donor, when you renew your driver's license the next time, you might want to think about it."
What a difference a year makes.
Ryan and Burke returned to Pearl's father-son camp June 10-11, this time bringing two special guests.
Ten months after his heart transplant, Wesley Coleman and his youngest son, 9-year-old Hudson, were back on the basketball court, together.
"I was so glad to be a part of that camp with my youngest son," Wesley said. "Hudson and I love basketball. We're really competitive. It was an honor to be there with my son."
"Seeing my brother participate in the Bruce Pearl camp last weekend, I had to hold back the tears a lot of times," said Ryan, who celebrated his 40th birthday at BP's camp the Sunday before Father's Day.
During the father-son camp, Pearl coached the dads about the importance of their relationship with their sons.
"Wesley looked at me during that and said, 'That interaction was worth the cost of the camp,'" Ryan said.
The Colemans' Auburn ties run deep.
Older brother Wesley earned his Auburn University degree in education while Ryan graduated in architecture.
While students, the brothers Coleman were part of the Cliff Dwellers at Beard-Eaves Memorial Coliseum in the early 2000s.
"Wesley and I were always there," Ryan said. "We love Auburn basketball."
They're also regulars at Auburn football games.
"Our family has had the same season tickets in Jordan-Hare for about 50 years," said Ryan, whose dad also holds season tickets for men's basketball. "We go to as many basketball games as we can with my dad. We love Coach Pearl."
Recovery is ongoing. Wesley had to learn how to speak all over again. He's back giving tennis lessons, working his way back up to a full day on the courts.
"Faith is a huge part of my family," Ryan said. "My mom and dad instilled that in both of us."
That faith sustained the family through Wesley's ordeal, making Father's Day 2023 a time to reflect, give thanks and endeavor to serve.
"My time to be in heaven is not there yet," Wesley said. "The Good Lord put me in this position to make a difference in the world right now."
'We love Auburn basketball': Ryan (l) and Wesley Coleman, with sons Burke and Hudson
Jeff Shearer is a Senior Writer at AuburnTigers.com. Follow him on Twitter: @jeff_shearer
