On the morning of Oct. 3, the man known as "Coach," worked his Saturday morning baseball show with Bob Scanlan on 1090 AM.

Kentera wasn't feeling well and went home to rest before departing for Petco Park to work on the Padres pregame show.

But Kentera ---- who has made his living being a talker ---- became a listener.

He told his wife, Kelly, he was going to the ballpark, and if something happened he would call the paramedics.

That's all Kelly needed to hear.

She dragged him to Scripps Memorial Hospital in Encinitas.

They arrived at 1:15 p.m. By 2:45, he was in surgery.

Doctors found he had a heart attack about 5 a.m. and there was a fully clogged artery in his heart. A pair of stents were inserted.

Off the air since Oct. 3, Kentera is set to return Tuesday, working his new 7-10 p.m. slot. Station officials plan a welcome-back party that night at the Hall of Champions in Balboa Park, an event that is open to the public.

"My doctor ---- Martin Charlat ---- has been great," Kentera said. "He told me that 60 percent of what happened was stress related. So I need to make some changes."

Those changes have already started.

Checking in at 6-foot-7, 316 pounds before the heart attack, he has already lost 10 pounds through exercise and a better diet.

"I wasn't a fast-food junky, but it's tough to eat healthy on the go," Kentera said. "No more six-egg, sausage-and-cheese omelets for me. I was never a fatso, but I was heavy.

"I have a better appreciation for eating healthy. I'm walking 60-to-90 minutes a day and exercising."

Kentera, whom I have called a close friend for many years, has always been the hardest working man at 1090. Part of that was management trying to take advantage of his on-air popularity.

Part of it was his inability to say no when asked to work a show or give up doing shows he loves.

During baseball season, he did a regular 2-4 p.m. talk show because management felt it couldn't afford not to have him on regularly.

For Padres home games, the 51-year-old Kentera would head down to Petco Park, work the clubhouse, talk to players, scouts and management people.

Then it was off to work the Padres pregame show from 6-7 p.m.

He watched the game from the press box, taking meticulous notes because he had to work the postgame show.

On paper, his workday was 12 hours. Because he actually prepares for his shows, that was more like 15 hours.

"I was averaging 15-20 shows a week in baseball season," Kentera said. "I loved it, but it was killing me.

"I'd start working about 11 a.m., get home about 11:45 p.m. and I'd be up writing down notes until after 1 a.m. because I believe preparation is the biggest thing.

"And while I love what I do, there were some things in my life that I didn't like, but that I didn't have any control of. And it was eating away at me."

There is no question something will have to change.

XTRA 1090 executives John Lynch and Jack Evans are willing to make changes, but aren't prepared to make them public now.

It's obvious by Tuesday's back-to-work party that they value him as an employee.

His contract is up at the end of the year. But if anyone doubted his popularity in the San Diego sports community look at the list of people who called him during his time off the air ---- Kevin Towers, Bruce Bochy, Buddy Black, Sandy Alderson, Grady Fuson, Paul DePodesta and Rick Renteria of the Padres, broadcast associates Ted Leitner, Andy Masur, Randy Jones and Scanlan, former big-league outfielder Dave Roberts, USD's Ron Caragher and Bill Grier and Bill Johnston of the Chargers.

Kentera loves his work. He loves dealing with the public and attending events, whether it's a high school game or a pro event.

He's scheduled to work the final USD football game of the 2009 season with Jack Cronin on Nov. 21.

He won't work with Masur on USD men's basketball as he has done in the past.

He will work with Steve Quis on Channel 4's telecasts of the CIF San Diego Section Division I and II football championships on Dec. 11.

"A good part of me is doing great," Kentera said. "The best part is there was no heart damage.

"The bad thing is that this has been draining mentally, very tough mentally."

Kentera said he got a boost from former San Pasqual High athletic director Art Warren at a recent Torrey Pines-San Pasqual football game.

Warren has worked his way back from a heart attack.

"Art was an athlete (playing baseball at Escondido High, Palomar College and the old USIU, winning an NAIA national championship there)," Kentera said. "He reassured me things would be all right.

"I think my background as an athlete and coach helped me get through this.

"Athletes and coaches have a certain toughness, a drive.

"Brad Cesmat (a former broadcast partner) told me to read Tony Dungy's new book 'Uncommon.' It forced me to take a look at myself, look at what's important. I would recommend it to everyone. I've had tremendous support from my family, friends, management at the station and listeners.

"Now it's time to get back to work, but I need to take care of myself so I can take care of my family."