Celebrated Sacred Heart Basketball Coach Passes Away

Gerald “Jerry” Phillips, longtime basketball coach at Sacred Heart High School and a member of both the Sacred Heart Cathedral and San Francisco Prep halls of fame, passed away on Sunday June 23 at the age of 85. A beloved faculty member at the San Francisco school from 1956 to 2013 and head coach from 1962-85, Philips later went on to coach at Las Lomas High School from 1990–95, accumulating numerous titles between the two programs. 

Phillips was a graduate of Fremont High (1952) and Saint Mary’s College of California (1956), and he led the Sacred Heart Cathedral boys basketball program to numerous West Catholic Athletic League (WCAL) titles and Tournament of Champions appearances, compiling a 512-294 record. Amongst his most notable achievements was winning the last AAA crown for the Fightin’ Irish in 1969 before entering the WCAL and capturing the school’s first CCS title in 1972. Known for his ability to win with less talent than his opponents, Phillips taught the game in a way that inspired countless former players to become coaches.