High School Coach Brent Fair Dies at 37

Brent Fair, who coached basketball at Golden West College, Fullerton High School and several other Orange County schools, has died of an apparent heart attack. He was 37.

Fair’s body was discovered inside his Fullerton apartment Friday night after he failed to show up for a basketball game at Wilson High School in Hacienda Heights, where he served as coach, according to his father.

“He was a great guy. He did so much for the kids he coached,” said Jack Fair, Brent Fair’s father who is a coach at Orange Coast College. “He was so popular with the kids. I’ve coached a long time, and I never made as many friends as he made.”

Brent Fair was well-known in the local high school sports community, having coached in Newport Beach, Huntington Beach, Fullerton, Whittier and elsewhere. He also coached professional basketball in England.

Fair complained about feeling sick Thursday evening and left basketball practice early after becoming nauseous, his father said.

Jack Fair discovered his son’s body lying on the couch of his Fullerton apartment the following day.

The Orange County coroner’s office said it has not determined the cause of death. But Jack Fair said investigators told him Brent had an enlarged heart and probably died of a heart attack.

Officials are now awaiting the results of blood tests, which should be completed in the next few weeks.

Friends are establishing a scholarship in Brent Fair’s honor to benefit college-bound high school athletes.

“Brent’s life was for the most part committed to helping young people move forward in their lives,” said Rob Lusk, a close friend.