Pirate Treasures -- All One Family -- Bill Cunerty
He was at once charismatic and humble.
That's how I saw him.
I never knew him personally, but our careers intersected over several decades in the areas of community college education and athletics. I was community relations director at Orange Coast College, and he was a celebrated Saddleback College coach.
On a number of occasions, we found ourselves in the same location at the same time … usually for a meeting or athletic contest.
I had great respect and admiration for this essay's subject, Saddleback College head football and golf coach, Bill Cunerty.
During the time that I watched Bill and followed his career I developed the opinion that he was, without doubt, a class act. Not to mention one heck of a fine teacher and ball coach.
Though we crossed paths often over time, I never actually "knew" him. Bill was one of those guys who had lots of friends. He was popular with his colleagues. When you met him, you never forgot him. His sense of humor was infectious.
Bill died last Thursday, Oct. 22, from complications of Parkinson's disease. He was 74. He was diagnosed with the disease in April of 2017, and had been in hospice care for the past year. I had no idea.
That makes Bill an even more-hallowed figure in my life. I appreciate that he waged war with Parkinson's for three years. That's an ugly assignment. Bill was known for his tenacity, and I'm certain he put up a good fight.
I was diagnosed with Parkinson's in 2006.
Parkinson's is a degenerative neurological disorder with no known cure. It causes nerve cells to become impaired and die, and patients exhibit such symptoms as tremors, slowness of movement, rigidity or stiffness, loss of facial mobility, and balance difficulties. Other signs include a shuffling gait, cognitive problems and muffled speech.
Bill was head football coach for Saddleback's Gauchos from 1995 through 1997, and was a football assistant for many more campaigns. I was Orange Coast College's community relations director from 1971 to 2008. I worked closely with OCC's athletic teams.
I had an opportunity – at meetings, conferences and ballgames -- to hear Bill speak and interact with others. A highly-successful coach and a man of deep faith, Cunerty generously shared that faith with others. He also graciously shared his coaching knowledge and expertise.
Bill was also a revered private quarterback coach.
His 1996 Saddleback gridders went undefeated and won the national championship. His men's golf teams won six California state titles over the years, and his women golfers were also state champs. Before joining Saddleback's staff, Bill was head football coach at Dana Hills High and was Capistrano Valley's first head coach two years later.
In 2016, he was inducted into the California Community College Football Coaches' Hall of Fame.
Not just an outstanding coach, Bill was a brilliant public relations practitioner. A USC journalism graduate, and later as a community college coach and high school sports commentator, he knew how to charm an audience and win over the media. He was outgoing and personable.
I never knew Bill Cunerty, but I surely do miss him.
