Thomas-Suitts-Obituary

Thomas B. "Tommy" Suitts

Birmingham, Alabama

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Birmingham, Alabama

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Thomas B. ("Tommy") Suitts, for over 50 years a devoted college and high school basketball coach who cared more about his players' success in school and in life than his teams' win-loss record, died in Santa Rosa, California, on March 26 after a decade-long struggle with prostate cancer. He was...

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As a member of the Redwood Credit Union in Santa Rosa, I loved the times when I would see Clint when he worked at my local branch; we always chatted about basketball, and Clint certainly knew his stuff. And though he never mentioned his father, I now can see that his dad obviously was a big part of Clint´s knowledge and love of the sport. What a wonderful obituary for a superb human being.

Coach was a dear friend and a mentor to me. I´m a better person and coach all because of Coach! I´m saddened to know that he is no longer with us but I´m Thankful to call Coach my friend.

I have many excellent memories of Tommy as we watched our sons play college ball together. I always enjoyed our conversations as we drove from Birmingham to Bay Minette and back in an evening to catch the games. He was very dedicated to his own family as well as helping others.

I saw Tommy play at Alabama several times, and I could see that he wasn't the most talented guy on the court, but he was scrappy and savvy. I also figured he would eventually be a coach. And so he was. And won a bunch of games. More importantly, he was a life coach also. May He Rest In Peace. He earned it.

Coach Suitts coached my son Bob during Bob´s Junior year at Clay-Chalkville High School in Birmingham. We became friends and had many interesting talks during that time. As others have said there was much more to Coach Suitts than basketball and I enjoyed our time with him. May God bring His Peace to the family and friends of this good man. Bob

Tommy's legacy lives on through all the lives he touched through the good he did. He was smart..really smart, and just as kind. And he was brave and courageous. I'm sorry we'll never get a chance to have another conversation. All condolences to his family and friends.

I am sorry to hear about coach Suitts! Please accept my very deepest condolences. He was the one who gave me the encouragement and confidence to become a professional basketball player. I remember him telling the media that I would be the only NBA guard who couldn't spin the ball on my finger and that in itself showed me that he had confidence in me. Thank you coach for not only what you taught me on and off the court, but for all of the lives that you touched. I'll see you again on the...

Tommy came and coached one year at Clifton Tennessee. His boys and my son become good friends and so did Tommy and I. After he went back to Alabama Tommy keep in touch. He was a great friend and will be missed.

Tommy & I were classmates at Coffee High School. I remember his being an all-round nice guy, a little shy, & very smart. I remember him best on the basketball court & with a kind smile. RIP, Tommy.