According to the University of Masscahusetts Athletics spokesperson Jillian Jakuba, Coach Sharon Dawley has taken a temporary leave of absence from the team after her father died of an apparent heart attack. Jakuba said that Dawley will not return until next week at the earliest. Associate head coach Steve Lanpher has temporarily taken over Dawley’s responsibilities in her absence.

According to Lanpher, Dawley’s father, David Dawley, passed away on Monday night from an apparent heart attack. David was a resident of Revere, Mass., where he and his wife, Ginger, raised their three children. Sharon Dawley has been away from the team for about a week to tend to her family.

Dawley will not be in attendance this week, but Lanpher is optimistic that she will return in time for the upcoming Atlantic 10 tournament, should UMass make it. The team plans to have her back at the helm next week, after going most of the month of February without her.

“She should be back soon,” Lanpher said.

The Minutewomen are on the road this week, taking on Dayton on Wednesday and George Washington on Saturday.

Michael Wood can be reached at [email protected].