ST. LOUIS, Oct. 24 (UPI) -- St. Louis Rams head coach Mike Martz will miss the remainder of the NFL season after being ruled medically unable to continue his duties.
Dr. Victoria Fraser, co-chief of the Division of Infectious Diseases at Barnes-Jewish Hospital, recently examined Martz and came to the decision.
Martz has been suffering from an acute bacterial infection of a heart valve since the start of this season. He was first admitted to the hospital Sept. 30 for treatment and evaluation.
Assistant head coach Joe Vitt was named interim head coach Oct. 10 and will continue in that role for the balance of the season.
The Rams are off to a 3-4 start and are 1-1 under Vitt. His first game ended in a 45-28 loss last Monday to Indianapolis. The Rams gave him his first coaching victory Sunday in a 28-17 triumph over New Orleans.
Martz, in his sixth season as Rams coach, has a regular season record of 53-32 and reached the Super Bowl after the 2001 season, losing to New England 20-17.
