Half Moon Bay assistant football coach Rocky Perry died today as a result of an apparent heart attack he suffered before the September 5 game at Monterey.
Monterey High football coach Tom Newton gave CPR to Perry prior to the game, until paramedics arrived.
“He wasn’t breathing when I got there,” Newton told the Monterey Herald earlier this week.
Perry then spent time in a Monterey Bay area hospital before his condition took a turn for the worse.
The coach's passing eight days after his collapse has deeply saddened the Half Moon Bay community.
"Rocky was a loyal and dedicated father, football coach and community member," said HMB football coach Keith Holden by text Saturday evening. "He spent all his time serving others. He will be missed greatly by the entire Half Moon Bay community."
According to the Half Moon Bay Review, Perry coached Pop Warner and Little League over the years, as well as coaching baseball at the high school.
After the normal post-game address from the coaches following HMB's 59-27 victory Friday against visiting Santa Clara, Holden had the squad gather in a tight knot and Perry's son Zack informed the Cougars of the his dad's dire condition, prompting tears from many of the players.
The team put "RP" decals on their helmets for the game to honor Perry, who was not doing well by late in the school week, The Review reported.
A source close to the program who requested anonymity described Perry as "very personable and likable" with a great concern about sportsmanship. Half Moon Bay players who got out of line on the field quickly got an earful from Perry.
Wrote a Half Moon Bay Review reader with the handle "HMB Surf" in response to the newspaper's story on Perry's passing: "I'm so sorry to read this. Rocky was a great guy who gave a lot back to the community. He contributed enormously over the years to high school sports and he'll be remembered by all of the athletes whose lives he touched."
Said Terra Nova coach Tim Adams who has been a fixture for many years in coastside football by text: "I did not know him personally but had the opportunity to compete against him in a number of intense Skull Games over the years and know that he was an outstanding football coach and loved dearly by his players, coaches and the entire HMB community. I recently saw him at our traditional Tiger Air Passing Tournament in June and he was as competitive as ever. He mentioned to me that he was excited about the upcoming season. Sad."
Besides son Zack, Perry also has an older daughter, Alexandra. Details on a memorial service will be published when they are made known.
