Irvine Valley’s Mulligan Stable After Suffering a Mild Stroke

ORANGE — Bill Mulligan, who suffered a mild stroke as a result of surgery, was in stable condition Saturday, according to a spokeswoman at St. Joseph Hospital.

Mulligan, men’s basketball coach at Irvine Valley College and former UC Irvine men’s coach, entered the hospital Wednesday for graft surgery on an artery in his neck that was about 90% blocked, he said.

Mulligan, 64, said he had a similar operation 10 years ago and suffered a mild stroke then as well. He said Wednesday’s 4 1/2-hour surgery went well, but he suffered the stroke while in recovery.

“His speech is really good,” said Mulligan’s wife, Dorothy. “He’s very bright and alert.”

The stroke affected movement and feeling in his right arm and leg.

“I’m starting therapy (today),” Mulligan said. “The doctors think I’m going to recover fine. My leg seems to be pretty good, and they are really happy with the movement I have in my hand.”

Mulligan started his college coaching career in 1966 at Riverside, where he stayed for nine seasons. He then went to Saddleback from 1975 to 1980. He then moved on to UCI, where he was 163-156 from 1980 until he retired in 1991.

Mulligan came out of retirement to help start the Irvine Valley program in 1992. Mulligan has led the Lasers to the playoffs in their first two seasons.

“I can’t wait to get back to coaching,” Mulligan said.