Longtime volleyball coach Jesse Quiroz dies

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Jesse Quiroz, recognized as one of the best volleyball coaches in the Southland, died on Monday, North Hollywood Campbell Hall Athletic Director Juan Velazquez said. He was 59. Velazquez said Quiroz had been dealing with kidney issues.

Quiroz guided Campbell Hall to its first Southern Section 3A championship in girls’ volleyball this past season. Prior to that, he spent nearly 20 years as the girls’ coach at North Hollywood Harvard-Westlake, winning seven section titles and three state titles.

He resigned after the 2007 season and went to Campbell Hall, where he began to build another program.

‘He was amazing,’ Velazquez said.

Quiroz also spent time coaching boys’ volleyball at Harvard-Westlake. One of his ex-players, Matt Sebree, said in an e-mail, ‘He made a huge impression on all of us and had absolutely the biggest heart of any coach I have ever had.’

Former Harvard-Westlake water polo Coach Rich Corso said, ‘Kids loved him. He was a great teacher and was one of the best coaches I’ve been around.’

Quiroz is survived by his wife Kathy, son Paul and daughter Kimberly. A service celebrating his life will be held Monday at 4 p.m. at Campbell Hall’s gym. A funeral will be held Tuesday at 10 a.m. at Forest Lawn Cemetery in Hollywood Hills.

-- Eric Sondheimer