ESPN analyst and former Notre Dame coach Digger Phelps has been diagnosed with bladder cancer. Phelps has had surgery and will start follow-up treatment next week near his home in South Bend, Indiana.

In a statement last week, Phelps said that "he and his family appreciate your thoughts and prayers as he prepares for the 2013-2014 college basketball season." The 71-year old has been a mainstay figure for ESPN's college basketball coverage since 1993.

Phelps coached the Fighting Irish for a span of 20 years between 1972-1991. He owns a 419-200 coaching record with a .677 winning percentage in 619 career games, including a 26-3 record at Fordham during the 1970-71 season, his lone season away from Notre Dame.

Phelps has coached four consensus All-Americans and won three regular season conference championships. During his tenure, teams coached by Phelps reached the NCAA tournament 15 times, including one Final Four appearance in 1978.