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Phillip M. Pote

1933 - 2018

BORN

1933

DIED

2018

About

John C. Fremont High School

Phillip Pote Obituary

1933 - August 19, 2018 Phil Pote, known to many as "Coach," was born on the East Coast in 1933 to Houston and Oyma Pote. When he was 10 yrs. old, his family came to LA. Mr. Ed Camp, director of 10th St. playground, changed Phil's life by making it safe for him to play outside and giving him tools for life. Phil always wanted to be a pro baseball player, and was signed by the Pittsburgh Pirates. He made the tough decision not to go because of his commitment to keep Sabbath from Friday sundown to Saturday sundown. Instead, he became a coach at Fremont High School and decided to accept any young man on the team that wanted to play ball who was also willing to keep up classwork. In 1963 he coached the team known as "The Pathfinders"; their mantra was W.U.T. (We, Us, Team). They turned out to be an amazing team who changed the world for the guys, for Phil, and for baseball. This was only 10 years after Jackie Robinson; the Pathfinders were the first and only all-minority team to win the LA City Championship. On that team were 3 players who got contracts for the Major League – Willie Crawford, Bobby Tolan and Bob Watson. In 1977, Coach joined the LA City College for 12 years. He scouted for the Oakland A's, the LA Dodgers, and the Seattle Mariners, securing contracts for over 50 players. His commitment was to Inner City youth, baseball, and creating equity for all, including scouts. He saw baseball as a way to attract kids to get an education (he had hated school) and he cared more about young people becoming good people than having fame. In fact, he was sometimes dubbed "The Parson" because of his values. Anyone touched by Phil's life who would like to further the work of making baseball accessible to kids, can make a donation or contact Urban Youth Academy at 310-763-3479. His family knew little of his life in baseball but we have been moved by the many who have continued to reach out to him even 2 years after he had a major stroke ~ we have learned that Phil was unusual, and that YOU are unusual. We would love to hear from you if you knew him or were inspired by him. [email protected]

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Published by Los Angeles Times on Aug. 22, 2018.

Memories and Condolences
for Phillip Pote

19 Entries

Anthony Toney

August 16, 2025

Great Man. The First coach to belive in me and my baseball career. Real genuine guy.

Jon Mason

August 16, 2024

Always a gentleman.
Forever with Jesus.
Miss ya 'Coach'.
See ya in heaven !

Jon Mason

July 10, 2021

' Let brotherly love continue. 2. Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.' Hebrew 13: 1&2

Tony

June 11, 2021

Coach Pote would come down to Hollywood High School and scout all the time. I had the pleasure of being one of those kids that he took interest in. He never shook hands he always wanted a fist pump. He would always come by Pote Field. Named after him in Griffith Park and visit his old stomping grounds. Godspeed Coach Pote

Rob Duron

May 16, 2021

Coach was a wonderful person. I miss his smile and talking baseball and life with him. He always has time for me and he was one of the few people I would say hello to in the middle of a game or prep for one.
Thanks Coach
Rob Duron

Kelvin Boagni

November 1, 2020

I played for Coach Pote at LACC. One of the best humans I ever met. He taught me and all his players a valuable lifelong lesson on how to answer "yes" not "yeah"
As became older I realized how important that simple lesson

Robert Stofik

March 13, 2020

Phil our talks were long and fun discussing baseball. I miss them and the times we had at college games checking out players. Miss you very much Phil.You gave me a chance to play pro ball Thank You For that.

Reggie Sanders

February 2, 2019

Phil was one of the most genuine people you could ever meet. He was indeed an inspiration to my career today. His smile and his infectious laugh will never be forgotten. Baseball was his passion and he touched a lot of people through it. I have dedicated my book, The Major League Mind (2019) to Phillip M. Pote. Miss u buddy!

jeff Kaley

October 11, 2018

There is a light that never goes out.

jeff Kaley

October 10, 2018

Coach... Was and still is one of the most amazing people I've ever met in my entire life. Coach embraced me the moment we became friends. I had the honor of spending time with him talking about baseball and life in general. He always encouraged me to chase my dreams. I was privileged to have filmed many baseball events with him and he introduced me to so many great scouts. There really aren't enough words to describe how amazing you were coach. I will truly miss you. You are a baseball God and a wonderful human being. RIP my brother. I will see you again on the other side to give you another famous.. "HIGH - LOW"!!

September 20, 2018

I met Coach Pote when I was in the 10th grade plying baseball at Pote's beloved Fremont High School in 1973. This was a time period just after "White Flight" had taken place in Central Los Angeles and civil rights for African Americans were being challenged to the utmost. In spite of all of the craziness that was taking place in the intercity it could have been a challenge to an anglo saxon but in spite of it all, Coach would make his visits to Fremont without a care in the world because that was important to him. Me being an African Americn youth, couldn't understand why this white man showed so much concern and how much he genuinely cared for all Fremont players who at the time were all black (and I am sure that it was not just Fremont players), even several years removed from Fremont High School, but all that you needed to do is to listen to Coach talk and you understood. He was a wonderful man who always had that smile on his face and he cared for all regardless of race. I commend him for that (me growing up in the 70's) among many of the other excellent qualities that made him what he was. He made such a positive impact on my life and I am sure that there were thousands of others.

David Ferguson

September 18, 2018

Great man. Our John C. Fremont High School "B" Football team assistant coach 58'-60'. He will be missed.

David Johnson

September 17, 2018

Thanks for everything coach! B-Football 1959

Anup Sinha

August 25, 2018

I'm a much better person for having known Phil and am going to miss him.

Barbara Holm

August 24, 2018

He was always Uncle Phil to me...my mother, Joyce Pote Truitt's younger brother. He was 10 years younger than her and I could see a mother-son relationship show through at times. He was always smiling and had an infectious laugh. He seemed to have a can do attitude and time for all of us whenever we approached him during his visits. Only wish he had lived closer to the rest of us so we could have known him even better. Reflecting back on his life and learning even more now, I see him as a man who followed his convictions/faith and one who was a servant leader in all his roles as teacher, coach, and scout. He seemed to think that anything was possible and tried to do just that! Seeing the faithfulness of some of his students he taught/coached, and scouts who respected him and tried to keep in touch with a visit, phone call, email even after he moved to Central CA closer to family and more needed health care helped me more fully recognize what a giving, caring person he was... One of his fellow scouts drove the 6-7 hour one way trip up from LA (and back home the same day) just to attend his graveside service says a lot to me about what a positive impact he had on so many lives. I am looking forward to seeing him again when Jesus comes again at his 2nd Coming and we meet together in heaven...what a day that will be!

christian

August 22, 2018

My deepest condolences for your loss. May the God of all comfort prove to be your strength during this difficult time.
Psalm 18:2

Glenn Marshall

August 22, 2018

RIP to great high school coach, MLB scout and all around gentleman to everyone he ever met. He was always a person of ultimate honesty and respect. He will be remembered for his hats, his smile and his ability to find baseball talent where others would not think to look. God has called a good one home to rest.

Eric Houston

August 22, 2018

Coach Pote. I would like to thank you for ur love for our community, As well as my personal thanks for helping me after my release from Y.A. and showing me the skills to survive life
Much love. Eric Houston.

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