Legendary Coach Tim O’Brien will be honored during North-South Challenge at Tesoro

Tim O’Brien will be honored during the North-South Challenge Tuesday. (File photo: Fernando M. Donado, For OC Sports Zone).

Tesoro Coach Steve Garrett talks about the impact his friend and mentor had.

Tim O’Brien, a legendary Orange County high school basketball coach who died in October 2020 of cancer at the age of 66 will be honored during the North-South Challenge at Tesoro High School on Tuesday, Dec. 21.

There are nine boys basketball games during the 22nd annual event and a message will be read before each game in honor of O’Brien. Coach Steve Garrett got to know O’Brien well and said O’Brien was an inspiration to him and many other coaches. The event is in memory of Coach O’Brien, Garrett said.

O’Brien coached at Estancia, Santiago, Tustin and Northwood High School. During that time he recorded 481 wins and led his teams to nine league titles and a CIF and state title.

One of the highlights of O’Brien’s illustrious career was when he was inducted into the Southern California Interscholastic Basketball Coaches Hall of Fame in February 2019.

“For me, Tim represents friendship,” Garrett said. “He represents the importance of relationships in our life and in our basketball community. The high school basketball community is made up of a small group of coaches, refs and sports writers. I believe this community wants to make the experience the best it can for these young men that are playing this game we all love.

“Tim loved this game and the young men he coached and he had a huge impact on Orange County basketball. I view the North/South challenge as a great event to bring together the Orange County high school basketball community.

“Tim and my friendship started in 2001 when I moved here to open up Tesoro. The Tesoro gym was not built until the second year. So Tim went out of his way to call me and offer his gym at Northwood. People forget that Northwood High School was ranked in the top five in the county in the early 2000’s. He offered me his gym knowing that we were going to be competing against him the next year in the Pacific Coast League. It made a lasting impression on me at the age of 28. Also, watching his teams play I wanted to have the same type of on court success. Early on my goal was to beat Northwood and win league. Why? Because in my mind Tim’s teams were the standard.

“So, in our second year of varsity play we did that; we ended up winning league in 2004 and 2005. At the start of the 2006 season Tesoro was moved to the South Coast League. Tim and I stayed in contact for the next 19 years until his passing last year. I loved watching Tim coach his son Chris. Chris was so tough …. .like his Dad. Also, I’m so grateful that Tim was able to watch me coach my son. Also, I’m grateful that Tim was able to speak to my son’s team despite the decline in his health.”

O’Brien, battling health problem, talked to the Titans after they defeated Yorba Linda 62-47 in the semifinals of the So Cal Elite Gary Raya Classic at Northwood in December 2019. O’Brien was about to coach his team against San Clemente.

Garrett and his players came out of that meeting inspired and cherished the words from the legendary coach.

And now, a new group of Titans and other players from throughout Orange County will take to the floor Tuesday to honor Coach O’Brien and it would be the kind of event he typically attended and very much enjoyed.

SCHEDULE:

(South listed first, home, North visitor)

8:45 a.m., El Toro vs. Tustin

10 a.m., Dana Hills vs. Huntington Beach

11:30 a.m., Trabuco Hills vs. Newport Harbor

1 p.m., San Clemente vs. Portola

2:30 p.m., Capo Valley vs. Woodbridge

4 p.m., Aliso Niguel vs. Beckman

5:30 p.m., Mission Viejo vs. Cypress

7 pm San Juan Hills vs. Laguna Beach

8:30 p.m., Tesoro vs. Laguna Hills

Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for students and younger.

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