Beloved Santa Margarita Coach Killed in Car Accident

The Santa Margarita Catholic High School community is mourning today the death of track and field coach Joe Phillips, who died Monday afternoon, two days after he was involved in a crash with a truck on the on the 241 Freeway in Irvine.

Phillips, 59, coached the high jump for the school’s boys and girls teams for the past four years.

“Santa Margarita was fortunate to have him on our track staff,” school officials wrote in a letter to students and parents. “He will be greatly missed and was well-loved by students and those who worked with him.”

A lifelong and accomplished competitor, Philips was best known for his dedication to his students, sharing snacks and playful nicknames with them.

The school’s track team has established a Joe Phillips GoFundMe page to raise money for his family’s funeral expenses.

“Anyone that knew Coach Joe knew that he had an incredible sense of humor and coached his athletes not for an income, but for their outcome. He loved each and every one of his athletes as if they were his own kids.” they wrote. “There is a void that can't be filled with Coach Joe's passing but he would tell us not to cry for him, but to perform for him. The rest of our season will be dedicated to Coach Joe and beyond. We love you, Coach, and we miss you and your laugh already.”

In a written statement, school officials summed up Phillips’ impact at the school.

“Coach Phillips loved track and put his heart and soul into his athletes. An accomplished athlete, he had a personal best of 7'3" in the high jump and qualified for the Olympic trials in 1976. He didn't make the Olympic team, but went on to win the 1978 National Collegiate Athletic Association Division II Championships. Coach Phillip's was a high jumper at Sana Ana Valley High School as well as Chapman University and UCLA. As a freshman at Chapman University, he beat Dwight Stones, a two-time Olympic bronze medalist and former three-time world record holder in the high jump. He had a vast knowledge of the sport of track and field and could tell you who won a dual meet, their mark, and the weather from a meet back in 1975 as if it was yesterday. He dedicated his life to the sport of track and field and his Eagle athletes.

Coach Phillips will be remembered for the commitment he showed to Santa Margarita’s athletes. He took the time to engage with each athlete and brought out the best in them. He valued teamwork and honesty. It was the little things that made all the difference, his athletes said. He frequently brought snacks and Gatorades to share at practice, had nicknames for everyone on the team and was always ready to share a joke and laugh.

Santa Margarita Athletic Director Rich Schaaf said Phillips didn't have children of his own and treated the athletes like his own - always keeping a sense of humor.

“These last five years were probably the happiest years of coach’s life,” Schaaf told the students. “He never had any kids of his own, so he probably looked upon each of you like his own children. He will always be looking down on you with the hope that, even in this situation, you never lose your sense of humor.”

Photo by Student Amanda Zou courtesy of Santa Margarita Catholic High School