Hey Coach. Taking some time today to pray and reflect….As we approach another BOD basketball season on the hill, I’m struggling with a lot of things. But today allows me to take a step back, breath a bit and remember the incredibly amazing times that we had together. Knowing how much you gave of yourself, what you meant to me, my family and so many other people, I realize today that we were incredibly lucky to have been part of each other’s lives, leaves me forever grateful. MISS YOU COACH. LOVE YOU

Mikey, sorry this is a day late, but you know me… You’re always close at heart. As others continue to express, your mark is forever in our hearts. The camaraderie we shared, the home we shared, the trials and the love will forever enrich my life and bring a smile to my face. Love you so much… Jannie

Miss you Coach. I miss your smile after a win, and I miss your grimace when the guys weren't following your designed play. You taught our boys how to be men, and look at the legacy you have created.

Mike always passed on encouragement and perseverance, he wouldn't let you forego faith in yourself nor would he accept excuses. It took me over an hour to access his memorial account... my past computer had crashed and erased... my new computer required me to recreate a new web world, I imagined Mike's encouraging laugh. as I struggled to accomplish my tasks.

When life becomes complicated with the little and big things... Mike always knew the most pressing encouragement... challenges could be resolved. There are numerous lessons from Mike that I cherish, but most of all I miss his laugh and smile as I persevere over my big and small challenges. Mike's forever spirit thrives in my life, always as an inspiring and dear, dear friend.

There isn't a day or week that passes without memories of Mike's friendship, the laughter, advice, basketball practice and hundreds of basketball games. You are dearly missed with thousands of reminders. Your life, left indelible memories. I will always be grateful to you. To this day I'm reminded, (as well by my son Tony) when playing cards with Mike, that I doubled dealt (Mike pushed the deal to me). Years later Mike told me, he never had to deal since I dealt for him...Loved Mike's humor.

My dear Mikey, putting words to thoughts and feelings is never enough. Knowing how much you meant to so many people, and realizing that we were incredibly lucky to have been part of each other’s lives, leaves me forever grateful. “Uncle Mike” has a lasting influence over Paulie and Katie, and for Jimmy’s and my life…we’ll, it’s a bond for eternity. I love you and miss your precious spirit and sense of humor. We will all honor you forever, buddy…. /

Thinking of, and missing you so much this week, Coach. Can't believe it's been two years. I am so blessed and honored to have had you in mine, and my families life, and to be a part of the Bishop O'Dowd legacy you built over the years. Your mentorship and lessons of life continue with me today. You would be so proud of what Coach Lou has accomplished and the life lessons and stories you instilled in him that he continues to share with the Dragon teams. Oh yah, I know you're looking down and seeing the amazing transition with the new gymnasium that is being built...yes I know, FINALLY.

God Bless you Coach. I Love You 

I have a special reminder with your birthday, since its the day after Tony's recalling the many times we celebrated together. This past challenging year is filled with memories, thankfully more humorous with the passing time, like the afternoon Mike helped clear (Keith, JK, and Tony's home) in Castro Valley with the worst unkept backyard. Mike and I on a hot day attacked the back yard with lousy weed eaters, breaking, slicing dirt with flying cuttings all over us while Keith stayed in the house watching the football game. I really complained and Mike... he just asked Keith what's the score. That's Mike, he just had this way about him. Its easier over time with the precious humorous moments, but always missed.

So missing you this week, Coach. Can't believe it's been a year. I so wasn't ready for you to be gone, but I am so thankful that you aren't having to live through this Pandemic. I pray and hope that somehow you know that you are still such a huge part of my life, and always will be.

Mike's birthday celebration came the day after Tony's birthday. We cherished the birthday celebrations over the years. Mike's memories are still abundant as the months and day pass. He will always be remembered.

Happy Birthday Coach! Miss you and Love you.

Always in my heart, Mikey. Been thinking about you all week in anticipation of this day. You were and always will be, loved. Bless you, honey. I love you. Jannie   

I am so sad to belatedly hear this news. Mike Phelps is one of the greatest men - not coaches, not educators - I have ever had the privilege of knowing.

As my HS algebra teacher at St. Joseph's HS Alameda, he was knowledgeable, patient, and had multiple ways to explain a problem to any student in his classes. I stunk at algebra, but to this day,I can help my son solve any algebra problem thanks to what I learned from Mike Phelps.

As a basketball coach, I have to this day never seen ANY better at ANY level of the sport, maximizing the ability of a very small talent pool at a very small school to win as a team against opponents with superior numbers and talent.

I was never on the team, but in gym class, he gave aspiring basketball players the same level of attention to advancing their knowledge of the game and maximizing their skills and ability to compete, as he did to his team players. I still remember him excitedly congratulating me in gym class for getting in position to draw a charge and perfectly executing the weight transfer to the heels he taught us to fall backwards and draw the referee's attention to the charge call. I was never going to be on a team to use that skill in front of a referee, but he taught it so well that even I could do it, and he recognized me for doing it right.

I transferred from St. Joe's in 1976, but watched in wonder as my former school's basketball coach assigned a 6'2" center, Paul Fox, to front a 6'7" "All Everything," Haaken Austerfjord, of Monta Vista HS, and then a 6'11" future NBA player, Mark McNamara, of Del Mar, and completely shut both of them down (with back side help, of course) in what everyone in the local press touted as a miraculous and surprising advance to the TOC Finals at the Oakland Coliseum. This was Chaminade beating Virginia and Ralph Sampson before that actually had happened. But it was no surprise to those St. Joe's players, or to anyone who knew Coach Phelps. His teams were always prepared to the max, and they always believed, if they executed their plan, they could beat anyone.

When I returned to the Bay Area, years after leaving HS and after graduating from the Naval Academy and starting a Navy career, he remembered me - just a student, not one of his players - and greeted me kindly and warmly. I am very sad and very sorry no more students will be learning algebra, basketball,or baseball from Mike Phelps. I am saddened my 15 year old son will never get to meet him or learn a basketball or baseball coaching nuance from him. It would have been an absolute honor for him to do so. God bless you and welcome you Coach Mike.

This is on behalf of William McCarthy....a teammate of Coach's at St. Joseph's.

I arrived at St. Joseph's from Hawaii in my junior year. I played baseball with Mike and I have to say as good as he was he was a better person. My mother thought the world of Mike and no matter how good my grades were or how well I played baseball, I was always reminded I should be like Mike. I went off to the Naval Academy and into the Navy, never returning to St. Joe's. If I had it would have been to see Mike.

Mike, May the road rise up to meet you, may the wind be always at your back, and until we meet again may the good Lord hold you in the hollow of his hand.

William McCarthy

This is on behalf for Jim Collins. He was not able to be at the Memorial today as his PGA Junior League team was playing for the SemiFinals for the National Championship in Scottsdale today.

"As you know, I coached with Coach from 1979-1991. I remember Coach asking me to coach the Freshmen team.....I was 19 years old at the time and quite frankly a little "out of control". Coach told me to be responsible, be dedicated to the kids, be organized, and make sure to have fun and run only the plays I tell you to!! So I had to grow up quickly!

So one quick moment to share....My first year as JV Coach, I submitted my roster to Coach that had 12 kids on it. Kid #12 was Brian Shaw. Coach said he's too small and skinny so keep this other kid instead of him. I said, Coach, I think he could be pretty good. But Coach said "No", and then Brian's Dad walked into the gym, he's 6'4", about 220, and I said, Coach, there's his Dad. Coach took one look at him and said, "Keep him!"

I visited with Coach last week with Dale Noleroth. I thanked Coach for teaching me his Principles of Coaching, which I have used my entire life. I also told him that I would not be the man I am today without his tutoring.

In closing, my dad passed away when I was 4 years old, so I never really knew him.....however, I have tried to raise my kids kind of like how Coach Phelps taught me those basic principles of life, and how he coached, and if I could choose a dad, I would want him to be like Coach!

God Bless Coach Phelps. I love you, Coach! ----- From Jim Collins

I met Mike as a young man entering high school.I had lots of unbridled energy and was a handful .As a teacher, a boss, and a coach Mike always tried to steer me in the right direction. The most important of all Mikes rolls was that he became a friend.I do not use that term lightly, we meet many people in our lives but few receive the honor a being ones friend.I am thankful for our many long conversations , victories and memories.My life has become a very happy and positive one. I give many thanks to Mike for helping me get there. Your friend-Gene Agnew..

Coach Phelps thank you for being a mentor of mine. I truly treasured every moment with you. To this day I use the stuff you taught me with my players and coaches. You were a great teacher, and the best HS coach I'd ever seen bar none-no contest. You were also great at teaching coaches. Competing against you, Pete, Lou, Mike, Tony, and Doug was an honor. Your legacy lives on forever in your players, coaches and students. May the blood of Jesus cover and protect all those who mourn you as you have received a grand entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

I feel so very bad about all those in the Bishop O'Dowd family and beyond who Mourne the death of Michael Edwin Phelps. He was a great mentor to many people, including a lot of players on the O'Dowd basketball team I played with. In the most humble way, I pray for those who are going through pain because of the death of Phelps. Many will miss him. God speed!

As a young man, Mike was an alter server at my wedding. During his long career as an educator, he was an excellent teacher of mathematics and an outstanding coach of both basketball and baseball. He was always a gentleman and a friend.

Coach you are the reason I came to O’dowd In 1978. Your coaching /teaching skills to this day are things I still reach back on. In Life when I’ve had tough decision would size it up as a basketball game coached by you. Positive attitude , never give up , do it the right way , discipline. You will always be the greatest Coach in History to me and many others. RIP Love You

Coach Phelps was a great human being. He was a driven coach who took the game and the people who played the game seriously. I will always remember the night before we were to make cuts. He reviewed, with all the coaches, the person, the player, the statistics, and more and would go on and on. He took the hopes and dreams of countless kids seriously and with amazing care and ability. He loved to teach and loved to coach. I wish he could have died doing those things and thank God that I had the chance to know him. God bless you coach.

Wow, Mikey, where to begin...? We met as you and Jimmy became colleagues at St. Joe’s as young teachers in 1970. (I was only seventeen!) Leaving there (after the big rebellion) and moving forward to O’Dowd, we still took our places behind your (stinky) teams and cheered them on until moving to Oregon in 1980. The elation we as a community felt over your little St. Joe’s teams’ successes was unbelievable, and as so many here, we were privy to your magic and relentless hard work, your belief in your kids.
Like a brother for the rest of my life, we traveled through so many chapters, and your comical relationship with Jimmy until his death, fills my heart and makes me smile. As a co-home owner, godfather to our kids, provider of a lifetime of love and friendship, you are a solid gem in my heart, and forever “Mikey.” Thank you for being that sweet and inspirational force in our lives. (Being at Jimmy’s bedside in Oregon near his death meant so much.) You never ever stopped loving all of these people who now write! Infamy is a wonderful thing. Bless you and thank you.
“ Jannie “

Posted by John Phelps Dinga, 10 October 2019. I hope you noticed my middle name, which caused me to have an immediate affinity to Mike when I met him in my sophomore year at St. Joes. He and I played handball almost every morning before classes at St. Joes, and shared classes for three year before we graduated in June 1963. He was a great classmate, and teammate on the baseball team, and he already demonstrated the qualities that so many have praised in their tributes after he worked as a coach and teacher at St. Joes and O'Dowd. I last met Mike over lunch in 2013; unfortunately I could not convince him to join the St. Joes 50th class reunion later that year. I will remember him and miss him.

I worked with Steve Phelps at Saint Ignatius - Paul Phelps was my friend at St. Joseph Notre Dame - and Mike Phelps and I competed for many years when he coached at O'Dowd. Pound for pound the best basketball coach in the Bay Area. If you played Mike's teams you better be ready to play with intensity. If want to get a good shot you better have a good offense, becasue they defended!! If you want to stop his team you better be able to maintain your defensive intensity for a longer period of time than other teams. Mike's team took only good shots and they defended with excellence. Mike was a friend of mine becasue I know his family so well and becasue our paths crossed with basketball competition. In l978 I was lucky enough to replace Mike at St. Joseph Notre Dame as the basketball coach and Atheltic Director. Mike helped me with both positions when he left. He suggested I take the Athletic Director position and that was a good suggestion. Thanks for all the memories Mike we all looked up to you as the best at what you do. Peace-Don Lipi

The key to success for any coach/teacher/mentor is to maximize potential. All great coaches have this ability. What made Mr. Phelps the greatest coach ever was not only his ability to maximize potential but also to see potential in people that others didn't or couldn't see, usually including the person them self. Mr Phelps ability to see the FULL potential in people was a rare gift. When you combined that gift with the tools for people to see their own potential, teach the lessons required to achieve that potential and provide unwavering and often times relentless support for people, then you are no longer just coaching basketball or baseball or teaching Algebra..... you are changing peoples lives. Forever. That's what made Mr Phelps the greatest coach ever.

Your bark was always bigger than your bite. Your generosity, grace and mercy were boundless. The things you wanted, most often you’d get and what others needed, most often you’d give. 

A quiet, shy man at first glance to those who didn’t know you but a Beast when it came to the intricate details and nuances of the games of baseball and basketball.

For those who believe, we will see you again someday. Until then I will remember the limitless love you had for your family, friends, students, teams, teaching, coaching and COOKIES! “I probably shouldn’t eat this stuff but. . .”

This is tough to write...Coach, you will be greatly missed. Thank you for everything you did for my family and I. You were a great coach and teacher but a better person. You helped me mold the foundation to be a man. You influenced so many lives in your lifetime. We can all hope to have that said about us. I will miss you! Love always. 

Your leadership, commitment, and passion for the game taught us so much more than what we developed on the court. The influence you had on your players transcended the game of basketball, allowing us to thrive in so many other aspects of our lives. Thank you for the guidance, wisdom, and patience you showed to me when I needed it most. You will be missed, Coach.

Michael Phelps was an inspiration to athletes and teachers. He brought the best out of his basketball team developing "player-playoff talent" every year. Mike interjected a friendly positive attitude with teachers and staff. He offered support and plenty of laughter with his colleagues and students. I really missed Mike when he left O'Dowd. I shared my feelings with his brother Steve that became President of the school. Michael was truly a remarkable teacher and coach. 

Coach Phelps was such an influence on me as a person, my understanding of teamwork, hard work, discipline, attention to detail, being able to accomplish more than I thought possible, and being a part of something bigger than myself. I was blessed to share alot of time with Mr Phelps during my time at O'Dowd that I wouldn't trade for anything. Those times formed the person I am today, and I am a better person because of Coach. He will be missed, but his spirit and influence live on through all of us that were so fortunate to have known him. Love you Coach!

Mike Phelps was a legend to many - and that title is well-deserved, to be sure. However, more important to me was his kindness, his gentleness, his passion for teaching, both off and on the court, and how honorable he was. As a young teacher and counselor, he both mentored me and helped me feel competent. He was a humble man, asking a young counselor for advice, when he knew full well that he didn't need any advice. He was a huge promoter of "the team," and not just a basketball team, but the team that surrounds us in work and in life. I feel your loss deeply, as do so many others whom you mentored and supported. Thank you, Mike.

Dear Mike,

I'm a witness to the difference you made in so many. You shared your love of math with your students, we still laugh at your banapple analogy and your love for the sport of basketball. You were tough and loving at the same time. You will be missed and I treasure the memories.

You were an awesome brother and role model.It was so great having you as a big brother but it was not always easy.People expected me to be able to coach like you,but you were always on a level that was well beyond my reach.I learned almost everything I know about basketball and baseball from you.I remember when you were my 4th grade basketball coach and my Babe Ruth League baseball coach from age 13 to 15.Thank you for believing in me so much because you never knew how much I needed that belief.Any success I had as a player or coach was because of you.I remember many years ago when I asked if I could crash on your living room floor for 2 weeks and I stayed for 2 years.I remember when you loaned me the money I needed to start my business.I mostly remember how much you genuinely cared about and loved your players,coaches and friends.You will be missed and you always be loved.Thank you for your love and helping so much to make my life more than I ever imagined it could be.

I write this with great sadness over the loss of my friend, father figure, and mentor. Coach Phelps helped shaped me to be the person I am today. His care and love for everyone he touched will always be remembered. Coach will be missed as his beautiful spirit will live in though everyone he touched. Coach I Love you !!! Rest in peace as you will always be coaching from above.

I did not know Mike Phelps well only through my daughter and son in law. We would get together with mike over a few holidays in the past and always enjoyed our visits we had with this kind man. I will never forget how he told me over a thanksgiving holiday that my stuffing was the best stuffing he had ever had. I said thank you mike it’s only stove top. He said it was better than his mother’s. We had a good laugh about that. You will be missed mike and we are still eating stove top.

My deepest gratitude for your enduring friendship, laughter, and decades of heartfelt memories that would fill libraries full of good times, challenging times and always the best of times with your abundant spirit. Mike you soar in the highest realms of being. I'm forever thankful for your presence in life. Love always J K

So thankful for the influence you were in my life. You brought so much to me and you didn't even realize it. I miss our Wednesday's already. The last 10 months gave me such precious time with you. I will never forget it. I will always celebrate you for the man you were.