Oct. 4, 2004

WESTWOOD, Calif. - Gonzaga University head men's soccer coach Einar Thorarinsson is recuperating at UCLA Medical Center following surgery to repair injuries sustained in an automobile-bicycle accident on Saturday.

Thorarinsson was bicycling on Saturday during Gonzaga's day off between weekend matches at Loyola Marymount University on Friday and at the University of San Diego on Sunday when the accident occurred. A passerby phoned emergency crews who transported Thorarinsson to the UCLA Medical Center in Westwood, Calif. Thorarinsson suffered facial injuries, including a broken jaw, and did not accompany the team to San Diego for Sunday's match. The surgery was performed Monday morning.

Doctors in Los Angeles said he will be hospitalized for about a week, meaning he will not be on the sidelines when Gonzaga makes its West Coast Conference home debut Sunday against Santa Clara University at 2 p.m.

"Complete details of the accident are unavailable," Gonzaga athletic director Mike Roth said. "The good news is Einar was not more seriously injured and is expected to make a full recovery. When he will return to coaching the team isn't known, but for now his personal well being is of the utmost priority for us."

Roth said assistant coaches Mike Thompson and Mike McCarthy will run the team in Thorarinsson's absence.