Mike Murphy, a longtime Bishop Montgomery boys basketball coach, died last Friday from a heart attack.
Murphy, 59, served as a junior varsity boys basketball coach at Bishop Montgomery and was the school's plant manager for the past 12 years.
Steve Miller, Bishop Montgomery's assistant principal in charge of athletics, said Murphy will be missed.
"He was fantastic," Miller said. "Probably the best thing was his loyalty. He was loyal to the school and to the kids, to his family and to his friends. He just had a giant heart.
"If everyone could have a friend like him, life would be good."
Before joining Bishop Montgomery, Murphy and Principal Rosemary Libbon worked together at Cantwell Sacred Heart and at Daniel Muphy before that. Murphy and Libbon had a 30-year friendship.
Miller said Murphy was key in helping build Bishop Montgomery's new Student Athletic Facility.
Murphy was also instrumental in helping maintain Bishop Montgomery's high standards in basketball.
"He was a little old-school, but that was his charm," Miller said. "He did all the advance scouting for (Coach) Doug (Mitchell), especially in the playoffs. He was very good with that and went all over the place for the team."
Murphy leaves behind two sons and two brothers.
Murphy's viewing will be at Rice Mortuary in Torrance on Thursday from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m.
Funeral services will be held for Murphy at the Lady of the Rosary Catholic Church in Paramount near where he lived on Thursday at 7:30 p.m. and Friday at 10 a.m.
A reception will be held at Bishop Montgomery on Friday from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. at the new Student Activities Center.
Murphy, 59, served as a junior varsity boys basketball coach at Bishop Montgomery and was the school's plant manager for the past 12 years.
Steve Miller, Bishop Montgomery's assistant principal in charge of athletics, said Murphy will be missed.
"He was fantastic," Miller said. "Probably the best thing was his loyalty. He was loyal to the school and to the kids, to his family and to his friends. He just had a giant heart.
"If everyone could have a friend like him, life would be good."
Before joining Bishop Montgomery, Murphy and Principal Rosemary Libbon worked together at Cantwell Sacred Heart and at Daniel Muphy before that. Murphy and Libbon had a 30-year friendship.
Miller said Murphy was key in helping build Bishop Montgomery's new Student Athletic Facility.
Murphy was also instrumental in helping maintain Bishop Montgomery's high standards in basketball.
"He was a little old-school, but that was his charm," Miller said. "He did all the advance scouting for (Coach) Doug (Mitchell), especially in the playoffs. He was very good with that and went all over the place for the team."
Murphy leaves behind two sons and two brothers.
Murphy's viewing will be at Rice Mortuary in Torrance on Thursday from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m.
Funeral services will be held for Murphy at the Lady of the Rosary Catholic Church in Paramount near where he lived on Thursday at 7:30 p.m. and Friday at 10 a.m.
A reception will be held at Bishop Montgomery on Friday from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. at the new Student Activities Center.
Coach Murphy was our head varsity football coach at Daniel Murphy for the 1980 season, my freshmen year. He also assisted basketball coach George Libbon for the 1980-81 season, a team filled with talent... He was a pretty "charged up" coach. As a freshmen, he challenged me to a round of half-court shooting in the gym. I made a half-court shot and he gave me $1.00...big money back then...Coach Murphy, you are a true Noble and you will be missed.
Frank del Castillo,
Daniel Murphy High,
Class of 1984
Mr. Murphy: You are well remembered by me as my English teacher in my Sophomore year at Daniel Murphy with your kind demeanor and friendly smile. You will be missed. Best to your family.
Greg Lester
Class of 1983
Daniel Murphy High School