Pirate coaching great, Tandy Gillis, dies at 85
COSTA MESA -- Orange Coast College coaching great, Tandy Gillis, who helped guide the Pirate men's basketball team to the 1979 state championship, passed away on Saturday, Aug. 3, at the age of 85.
Gillis compiled a 244-228 record with the Pirate basketball program from 1976 to 1992 before taking over the men's tennis team for eight seasons. OCC's 1979 championship squad -- led by Pirate greats Ray Orgill, Pete Neumann and future Olympic volleyball standout and OCC Hall of Famer, Steve Timmons, surprised everyone but themselves that season, finishing 27-5 and capped off its state championship run with a 75-67 overtime win over Saddleback in the state finals.
"That was the ultimate team," Gillis said in a 2000 story for the Daily Pilot. "Eight guys that would compete you to death. I tell you what, if Steve Timmons wanted to, he could have been an NBA player. He was that talented, but he liked volleyball better. I think it still worked out pretty good for him, though."
Prior to becoming head coach, Gillis was a member of Pete Newell's 1959 University of California men's basketball team that won the NCAA Championship, as well as the 1960 team that fell in the National Championship game to an Ohio State squad that included such greats as John Havlicek, Jerry Lucas and coaching legend, Bobby Knight. The lessons he acquired from Newell helped shape his own coaching career that lasted at OCC until his retirement in 2000.
After his playing career ended, Gillis became a coach at Cathedral High School in Los Angeles before going to France as a coach. Two years later, he returned to Southern California to coach at Corona del Mar High School, where he was the head coach for eight seasons before moving on to OCC in 1976.
"He was old school and learned from the best," Gillis' daughter, Bryn Hutchinson said. "(Cal head coach) Pete Newell was all about defense and dad took that and ran with it. Defense was the most important part of what he taught. When you were the type of player that hustled and tried hard, he loved it. You didn't have to be perfect, but you had to work your (butt) off or he had little respect for you. His favorite players were ones that knew the game, loved the game, were team players and worked to make each other better. That 1979 team wasn't the most talented team he had, but they were the best and because of that, they won state. He absolutely loved coaching."
While most people saw the fire and the determination and the hard-nosed style of Gillis on the court, there was a much softer side of his personality off of it.
"Off the court, he was quiet and easy spoken," Hutchinson said. "He loved being with me and my sister (Courtney). He took us to Del Mar to watch the races, we went camping at San Elijo, traveled to Iowa and Montana, and supported both of us in volleyball our whole careers. The thing that always made me laugh was that he kept his mouth shut when we were playing volleyball. That doesn't usually happen when you have a coach as a parent. When we had kids, he was a fantastic grandfather and helped me out a ton when my kids were little. He would give them marshmallows and Oreos at 10 a.m. He always was supportive in all that we did, and was always there for us."
Hutchinson played women's volleyball at OCC under the guidance of newcomer Chuck Cutenese and the now-longtime Pirate skipper experienced what Gillis was all about, both as a coach, as a co-worker and even as a father in the stands.
"When I started coaching at OCC, I was aware of the legendary coaches within the department," Cutenese said. "I quickly learned that Tandy won an NCAA basketball title while attending Berkeley. I was aware of his state basketball title at OCC and quickly learned that he was well connected in the basketball world. Then, his youngest daughter, Bryn, came to OCC to play volleyball. Tandy attended all matches, sat by himself and said very little. I wasn't sure if Tandy was critical of the coaching or just quiet in nature. Years later, Tandy approached me and said, 'It's been nice watching you grow as a coach and I'm glad Bryn had the opportunity to play for you.' I've always remembered that compliment and coming from Tandy, who had a great playing and coaching career, it meant a great deal to me. Bryn and I have stayed in contact since she played at OCC (1990-1991) and through my relationship with her, I've kept in touch with Tandy. The OCC athletics family has lost a legend and my prayers go out to his family."
Following his tenure with the Pirates, Gillis remained in the coaching world as a longtime assistant men's basketball coach at Irvine Valley College, under head coach Jerry Hernandez.
"In 1998, as the head coach at Irvine Valley in my third season, I was searching for an assistant men's basketball coach," Hernandez said. "Former UC Irvine great Bill Mulligan suggested Tandy Gillis. I talked to Tandy and we both thought we would be great together on the sideline. I was smart enough to know that I needed a successful, respected, veteran coach to prepare for an always-tough Orange Empire Conference schedule. Because of Tandy's championship experience, IVC enjoyed immediate success. He was a patient and poised mentor, helping me with a lot land mines. He certainly helped me from making a lot of mistakes. But what I will remember most about Tandy are the long drives we had together scouting opponents. His kindness, unwavering loyalty will never be forgotten. His late-night calls of encouragement were always, 'You did well today Jerry. Let's go get them tomorrow.'"
Gillis, who was inducted into the California Community College Men's Basketball Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 1993 and the OCC Athletics Hall of Fame in 2010, is survived by his daughters Bryn Hutchinson and Courtney Palmer, as well as four grandchildren, Alex and Matthew Hutchinson and Maren and Brady Palmer.
