Steve Lavin Has Successful Surgery To Treat Prostate Cancer

NEW YORK (AP) -- St. John's coach Steve Lavin has had successful surgery to treat prostate cancer.

The 47-year-old Lavin underwent the surgery Thursday at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in New York.

According to Lavin's physicians, the surgery went as planned and there were no complications. Lavin is expected to return to his full-time coaching responsibilities after a recovery period.

Lavin announced in April that he was diagnosed the previousSeptember with an early stage of the disease.

After continuing his coaching duties for about a year while pursuing a physician-recommended course of active surveillance, Lavin changed his treatment path to surgery.

Practice begins Oct. 14, and St. John's first game is Nov. 7 against William & Mary.

In Lavin's first season with the Red Storm they went 21-12 and made their NCAA tournament appearance since 2002.

(Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)