Kay Yow, head coach of the North Carolina State women's basketball team, returns to her job today following a two-month leave she took to fight cancer for a third time. Yow's first game back will be on Thursday against Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) rival Virginia.

Yow, 64, was first diagnosed with breast cancer in 1987. Two years ago the disease returned and was treated. And in November, Yow left her team after doctors determined her cancer had returned once again.

For the past two months, Yow has been receiving chemotherapy along with other new therapies. And while Yow's disease is not gone and her life-extending treatment will continue throughout the season, doctors say her health has improved. And she says she's ready to get back in the game.

Yow, who was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 2001 and coached the U.S. women's team to a gold medal at the 1988 Seoul Olympics, has been a head coach for 32 seasons. Her assistant Stephanie Glance led the Wolfpack team (13-7, 2-3 ACC) in Yow's absence.

North Carolina State women's basketball coach Kay Yow will soon take a leave of absence so she can fight breast cancer -- for the third time.

Yow, 64, was first diagnosed with breast cancer in 1987. The cancer returned two years ago, and she was treated with hormone therapy and radiation. Just recently, doctors discovered the cancer was progressing. And they have already started treatment with chemotherapy and new targeted biologic therapies.

This is Yow's 32nd season as the head coach of the Wolfpack women's team. Inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 2001, Yow also coached the U.S. women's team in the 1988 Seoul Olympics. The team took home the gold medal.

Associate head coach Stephanie Glance will serve as interim coach while Yow takes on her cancer opponent. "I have every confidence in my coaching staff to continue the development of this outstanding group of young women," Yow said.