Marshall Faulk has been dealing with a challenge even greater than coaching in the SWAC.
The Hall of Fame running back and first-year head coach of Southern University announced on the most recent episode of The Caring Neurologist podcast that he has been diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease, a progressive disorder of the central nervous system that affects the body’s movement.
Faulk, 53, explained that routine golf rounds became difficult for him and were cause for concern.
“I just thought it was normal nerves when putting and stuff like that. But it started to be times where I wasn’t playing— I mean, where I was playing, but I wasn’t in a match, and it would still do that,” he said. “And I was like, wow, is that something— is that normal? And the doctor was— he literally was like, You need to go get checked.”
Faulk is on medication for his condition. He praised early detection and encouraged listeners to seek out tests and treatment if possible.
“I just say, go beyond your resources. Look beyond the things that’s in your community because there are things out there. And it’s not always you got to have money, you got to have the most money to do so,” he said.
Faulk is currently in his first season coaching the Jaguars, who are 3-4 overall and 1-2 in SWAC play.
Southern visits Texas Southern in Houston this weekend.
