Chicago-Area High School Football News and Scores | Season Pass

Hampshire boys basketball coach Bob Barnett missed the Whip-Purs’ season opener Tuesday night after suffering two heart attacks earlier in the day.

Barnett, 51, was being kept overnight at Provena Saint Joseph Hospital in Elgin.

“I heal quick,” Barnett joked by telephone late Tuesday night. “Everything is going well.”

That wasn’t the case for Barnett on Tuesday morning at school. The 11th-year Hampshire coach said he felt light-headed and dizzy before experiencing a tingling sensation in his fingers and arm and then heaviness in his chest.

“They called 9-1-1 and got me to the emergency room in about 15 minutes,” Barnett said.

While undergoing an angioplasty, Barnett said he suffered a second heart attack.

“They’re going to keep me overnight and do some more tests,” said Barnett, with wife Marcie close by in his hospital room.

Hampshire opened its season late Tuesday, losing 62-48 to Rockford Lutheran at the Sycamore tournament. The Whips are scheduled to face rival Burlington Central at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday at Sycamore.

Barnett said he understood varsity assistant coach Mike Featherly and sophomore coach Ben Whitehouse were to lead the team.

Barnett won his 400th career game last season and is 406-271 all-time, including a 167-102 mark with the Whips.