BERN, Switzerland – SC Bern head coach John van Boxmeer suffered a heart attack on Friday, just two days after he travelled back to his club team in Switzerland.

Van Boxmeer's condition has improved, SC Bern said on Monday, but he won’t be able to coach the team for about a month. During van Boxmeer’s absence, sports director Sven Leuenberger will coach the team along with assistant coach Konstantin Kurashev. Former national team player Leuenberger, 38, was a SC Bern defender 1988-1992 and 1994-2003.

SC Bern will play the Champions Hockey League qualification tournament in Nuremberg, Germany, September 12-14, 2008.