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DENTON, Texas -- North Texas coach Dan McCarney said Tuesday that he suffered a stroke over the weekend and expects to recover in time to lead his team through spring drills.

McCarney said in a statement provided by the school that he felt his left side go numb Sunday and was taken to a hospital. Doctors later confirmed he had a stroke.

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McCarney, 58, is out of intensive care but remained in the hospital Tuesday for further treatment. He said he expected to be back to his normal routine "in time." The team starts spring practice March 28.

"While I have a great passion for coaching and approach my job with a tireless effort, I'm sure that my doctors will ask that I come back at a slower pace," he said. "I fully intend on leading the North Texas football program through spring drills and can't wait to be back around my staff and players."

McCarney told the Denton Record-Chronicle that he had finished a workout and was sending a text message when he felt numbness.

"There was a blood clot that hit the back of my brain," McCarney told the newspaper. "My son Shane and my wife were there. We dialed 911 and I got the first helicopter ride of my life."

McCarney was hired as coach of the Mean Green in November 2010. He went 5-7 in his first season last year.

McCarney coached at Iowa State from 1995 to 2006 and has worked as an assistant at Florida, South Florida, Wisconsin and Iowa.

Michigan State's Mark Dantonio was hospitalized with a mild heart attack following a 2010 overtime win over Notre Dame and a year earlier then-Florida coach Urban Meyer was hospitalized with chest pains after the Southeastern Conference championship game.

Copyright 2012 by The Associated Press

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