Dave Matsu was remembered on Monday as a “best friend” to his son and more than a high school girls basketball coach.
Matsu, 54, died on Saturday, one week after suffering a stroke.
Justin Matsu, who coached alongside his father at Mills High in Millbrae, wrote Monday on social media, “My best friend, mentor, golf partner. Love and miss you so much already pops. Life will never be the same without you. Coaching will never be the same without but I promise to carry on your legacy. A hui hou dad.”
The father-son duo led Mills to the Central Coast Section Division III championship last season, the program’s first section title since 1985.
Dave Matsu coached at Mills for 16 seasons, winning 253 games, according to results reported to MaxPreps.
We are saddened to announce the passing of our long time beloved Head coach Dave Matsu. Coach Dave will truly be missed and has left a legacy in the high school basketball community as a great coach but even better person. We love you Coach Dave #ohana #dmatzstrong
pic.twitter.com/cQLZulQh1F
— Mills Girls Varsity Basketball (@millsgirlsbball) October 16, 2023
He was named the CCS honors coach for girls basketball just this past season. The award recognizes coaches who are a “role model and inspiration/motivation to athletes, coaches, fellow teachers, administrators, parents, public.”
Monday, CCS commissioner Dave Grissom said about Matsu, “He exceeded the term of just a ‘coach.’ Anyone you came across would just speak volumes about him as a human being first. He was a guy who was family-first, and put his kids first and cared about the game, cared about his kids and cared about his family.”
Matsu is the CCS’s girls basketball nominee for the NFHS national coach of the year award, Grissom added.
The coach is survived by his wife, Donna, and children Holly, Alex, Justin, Taylor and Keilee.