ST. LOUIS — Dan Rolfes is arguably the greatest high school basketball coach St. Louis has ever seen.
Rolfes just completed his fourth consecutive undefeated season at Incarnate Word Academy, winning 131 games in a row. He also has 13 state titles.
And he's lucky to be alive.
Five weeks ago, Rolfes suffered a massive heart attack right after the team's semifinal game in Columbia, Missouri.
Paramedics tried to resuscitate him for 30 minutes in the parking lot and another 50 minutes at an area hospital. Rolfes was shocked about 30 times.
Rolfes spent 18 days in the university's intensive care unit, and then 10 days at Barnes-Jewish Hospital in St. Louis.
He had damage to his liver and kidney, and two different surgeries—but he made it through.
"It puts a lot of things in perspective," Rolfes said. "And when something like this happens, it just like, the real meanings in your life come out, like your family, your friends, the people who you know are going to reach out and take care of you. Those things come to light."
Rolfes is making a recovery, and a lot of credit goes to his wife, Lisa, who is a nurse. She gave him immediate care that night.
"Pulled him out of the car, one of his assistants was there, and just immediately started CPR," Lisa said. "It was the weirdest thing like, never once did I think, 'Oh my gosh, I'm doing CPR on Dan.' I just immediately, I don't know, my body just kicked in."
"Lisa saved my life in more ways than you can imagine, you know, from first giving me CPR immediately which, you know, saved my life to spending 28 straight days in the hospital with me," Rolfes said.
Rolfes watched the Red Knights championship game for the first time on Wednesday. He didn't coach because of the heart attack, but his team captured the title after defeating Kickapoo 53-43.
Want more local sports delivered straight to your inbox? Sign up for the 5 On Your Side Sports Plus newsletter.