Coach Tim O’Brien’s family moved by tribute during North-South Challenge

Susan, Devyn and Chris O’Brien attended one of the games Tuesday at the North-South Challenge. (Photos: Tim Burt, OC Sports Zone).

Coach Tim O’Brien’s son Chris, recalled when he heard that Tesoro Coach Steve Garrett was dedicating the North-South Challenge this week to his father, who died in October 2020 of cancer.

“I started crying,” Chris O’Brien, 32, said Tuesday during the event at Tesoro. “It was the most powerful thing because obviously in this last year, we’ve had a lot pauses with everything going on in the world, from his memorial, and having to wait to recognize him and the sports season having to be on pause.

“When Coach Garrett told me what he was going to do and what he was putting together, I broke down crying because he said it best, ‘my dad was a huge pillar in bringing all coaches, writers, people, parents together and you knew when he was in that room’ so when he told me he was going to honor him all day I knew I had to be here to see what was going on and see familiar faces and it was incredible, it was really heartwarming and something he would be smiling down at.”

Tim O’Brien’s wife Susan along with the couple’s daughter Devyn and Chris O’Brien’s girl friend Jilly also came by to watch one of the afternoon games of the challenge. Before each game, the accomplishments of the former Orange County coach, who last coached at Northwood, were read to fans.

The game brought back memories for the O’Briens, who shared some stories with Garrett, Coach O’Brien’s long-time friend. In all, there were nine games played Tuesday at Tesoro. Northwood’s basketball team, coached by Christian Manalo, also attended.

“I’m just happy that all four of us can be here today, all five with my dad too. “It was if he was in the stands watching the game too,” Chris O’Brien said.

“He’s the (basketball) junkie, it’s hard to get him out of there. Even if you’re not playing against him, he will learn and pick people’s brains. He learned so much from other people just by being around them. People say vice versa. These all day events, it was like his movie premiere, it was his popcorn. He loved being at these events and being around coaches and players all day.”

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Chris O’Brien, a 2007 Northwood graduate, said he will always remember his father’s resilience and faith.

“So much of what he shares is really predicated for off the court,” said Chris O’Brien, who played for his father at Northwood. “Many just think it is just about life on court. His commitment to players and to programs and coaches (stood out). He would put so many people in front of him. He was always the last one to eat dinner. He would make sure all of his guys were taken care of: wife, son and daughter, coaching staff. That was one of the biggest lessons he taught me at a young age was leaders serve.

“I was able to learn more about my dad in his last two years of his life than the previous 30. To learn and to get closer to someone, my father, best friend, coach, mentor, I saw sides of him I never have: very vulnerable, emotional and that’s what I will always cherish, those last couple years I had with him.

“I miss him so much physically but we all know that he’s probably standing right here smiling putting his hand on you right now.”

The O’Brien family had a memorial service for Coach O’Brien in November 2020 and attendance was limited to 100 due to COVID protocol.

“It was a little difficult because that was in the middle of crunch time of everything that was going on in the world with the pandemic so we had to evolve,” Chris O’Brien said. “I know in a different time, you’re filling up (the church) with 3,000 plus, that was the impact he had.”

“People came up and spoke their heart and there were tears flowing everywhere,” he said. “His legacy was unmatched.”

Chris O’Brien said he is now an entrepreneur and not involved with basketball.

“I’m on a mission to make sure others are living healthy, happy, in faith, God in their heart and giving them tools to come out better,” he said. “I’m all over the place.”

Many coaches who coached with or against O’Brien were involved in the event, including San Clemente Coach Marc Popovich. Long-time friend Brian Mulligan was there with his team along with former player Tino Zaragoza, now head coach at Huntington Beach. Zack Zaragoza is an assistant coach at Laguna Hills, which was also part of the event.

“We miss him around Orange County basketball,” Popovich said. “He’s one of the few guys who coached against my dad (Steve) and me, I’ve known him since I was a kid. He always had a positive word for you when you talk before a game or after a game. He was just a spectacular individual and I’m really glad we had the opportunity to help honor here today. Tim is one of those people who all of us in Orange County basketball have known forever and his impact was tremendous on all of us.”

—Tim Burt, OC Sports Zone; timburt@ocsportszone.com