Monday, Jan. 3, 2005 | 9:24 a.m.
Longtime local high school basketball coach Phil Clarke died Wednesday night following a battle of more than two years with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. He was 53.
Clarke, the boys' basketball coach at Palo Verde High School since its opening in 1996, had been receiving treatment at UCLA Medical Center since the middle of September.
After being diagnosed in July 2002 as part of a routine physical, Clarke continued to coach while undergoing chemotherapy. The disease moved into remission in December 2003, but reappeared a couple of months later before last year's basketball playoffs.
During his 24 years in Las Vegas, Clarke also taught and coached at Western, Rancho and Cheyenne high schools. In addition to boys' basketball, Clarke coached girls' basketball, softball, tennis and volleyball at various times.
Behind Clarke's laid-back demeanor was a deep passion for both his players and for basketball. Clarke won his first state championship as a head coach last season when the Panthers claimed the 4A title in boys' basketball. Throughout that year, Clarke's players often spoke of their desire to win the championship for their coach and they did so by defeating Foothill, 66-57, at Reno's Lawlor Events Center in February.
Clarke's wife, Diana, said Sunday night that he felt a special bond throughout last year with the group that went on to win the state title. The victory meant the world to him, she said.
"That was everything to him," Diana Clarke said. "He could have died the next day and been the happiest man on Earth."
After his first diagnosis, Clarke insisted on continuing to coach and he also worked to raise money for lymphoma research through basketball fundraisers. He said he felt the most normal in the gym and around the game. Palo Verde athletic director Darwin Rost, a close friend of the Clarke family, said the feeling was mutual between Clarke and his players.
"The biggest thing was that Phil made it fun for kids to play for him," Rost said. "He kept things upbeat."
Durango basketball coach Al LaRocque coached both with and against Clarke during the past two decades. LaRocque said the loss would not be easily overcome in town.
"It's just tragic," LaRocque said. "He was too young for that to happen. It's a big hole and a big void in Las Vegas basketball because he was one of the more popular veterans."
"He was one of those guys that no one had a bad word to say about. There are not a lot of those guys in coaching."
The Panthers defeated Durango in the Sunset Region title game last year to earn a trip to the state playoffs, and LaRocque saw a special fire from his team's opponent.
"You could see it in their eyes," LaRocque said. "They were going to win one for the Gipper."
After that game, Palo Verde players Nate Schulte and Amir Ahmad talked about their longing to make Clarke a champion.
"That's a big thing we've thought about," Schulte said. "Coach has gone through some tough times. There's nothing better than to get a win. That helps him out as much as we can."
Said Ahmad: "I think we want to win it this year also for coach. Last year, we came up short. He found out that he had the cancer and before I leave, I just want to get a ring for him."
The warm feelings for Clarke were common throughout the local basketball community, as well as at home.
"I used to tell him, 'Phil, you're too nice, you're just too damn nice,' " Diana Clarke said.
Visitation for Clarke will be held from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Tuesday at Palm Mortuary, 7400 W. Cheyenne Road. A Mass will follow at 2 p.m. at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic Church. A memorial celebration is planned for Tuesday evening, beginning at 7 p.m. in the Palo Verde gymnasium. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Lymphoma Society of Southern Nevada.
Clarke is survived by his wife, Diana; sons Philip and Michael, all of Las Vegas; brothers David Clarke of Shelton, Wash., and Gordon Clarke of Lake Tahoe; and sister Elizabeth Stowell of Texas.
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