James Daniel "Jimmy" Disco

Your love of tennis and the kids you coached will be greatly missed. What an honor to attend the Dallas Tennis Open with you and your students at SMU. It was a spectacular event from the coin toss to bringing all your students onto the court to be recognized. Nothing but pure love.

I love Uncle Jimmy more than I could ever properly express. He was an uncle and a best friend all in 1. He was a fun, joyful guy with a child like innocence, heart of gold, and contagious spontaneous energy

You always loved sunsets and hope you are enjoying the glorious sunsets of heaven.

You were the best Uncle Jimmy! You gave us so many life lessons, how to speak kindly, how to enjoy sports, how to laugh, how to give, how to be resilient and most of all how to love! We will miss you but you will be in our hearts forever. Love, GBC

James you will be missed. May Jesus welcome you with open arms.

Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon them. May they rest in peace. Amen

A great tribute to one of my heroes. Love you Uncle Jimmy!

Coach James was a blessing to our boys and all the kids at Dealey. We was always kind and a funny! He will be missed.

Coach Disco was such a sweetheart to our late daughter Isabel Emma Ibarra. May he rest in eternal peace

Our family met Coach Disco when Ezekiel was a new student in seventh grade at Dealy Montessori and he signed up to take tennis after school. He joined JTT Tennis through Coach Disco, who became a close friend and mentor, even hiring Ezekiel to be his helper with the younger kids on Saturdays through his high school career (he is wrapping up his senior year at Booker T. Washington in the music department.)
Coach Disco and the rest of the kids affectionately referred to him as `Big Boy´ and working with Coach helped Ezekiel to develop wonderful skills of communication, team-building, and confidence.
Coach Disco stayed so strong and positive through his arduous cancer fight, and he was such a great light and inspiration to us all during this time. He stayed engaged with our family, even writing several amazing recommendation letters for Ezekiel this past Fall, as he is presently auditioning for competitive college music programs in & out of state (Coach was a real music fan, and came out to watch Ezekiel play with some of his bands a couple times around the metroplex area.) The ultimate encourager, Coach had a way of making you feel seen and supported if you were one of his friends. James also had a heart of pure gold and a radiant kindness that I see in my son and I know will continue to live on through him.
The last time we saw Coach here in Dallas before he moved back to Tyler, Ezekiel had brought one of his graphic novels up to be personally signed at the hospital. The nurse had just fallen in love with Coach Disco (of course!) and she was blown away by his novel and his story of working with The Lost Boys of the Sudan. Ezekiel had Coach sign his book and gave it to the nurse happily, both of them knowing what a wonderful gift it was to give above receiving on that day. That´s the legacy of Coach Disco-selfless love, tireless community building and an effervescence of kindness & connection in everything he touched. See you on the other side, Coach, we will love you FOREVER & ALWAYS.

My daughter learnt with Coach from 1st grade to 8th grade at Dealey (except Covid period). Coach brought tennis to all the kids at Dealey. It was not just tennis; it was also connection, fun, love of life. Coach always encouraged students to participate in matches. He emphasized that it was ok if you did not win; it was to exercise, practice and improve. Students also loved the candy, prizes and fun end of year parties.
My daughter found the book Coach wrote--Echoes of the Lost Boys of Sudan. She was so happy to be part of the 2024 Dallas Open coin toss.
Coach also told us about a project after he connected with a movie making person.
We wish we had a chance to visit him.

We will forever remember the kind and loving instructions and encouragement Coach gave the students. Coach James Disco will live forever in us with his faith, courage, resilience, passion, generosity and being the change he wanted to see.
We are eternally grateful to Coach and are inspired to embrace, love and live life and make the world a better place that Coach would love to see.

We love you Uncle Jimmy and we will miss you. We had so many fun times with you. This photo was a great memory. The sign says it all.

A fierce competitor with a heart of gold. I will miss his contagious laughter and great attitude so much. He always believed the best was yet to come. He was so kind and so giving. He was the one and only Uncle Jimmy - Uncle J!

Sending love peace and comfort to the family. We had profound conversations on the Tao of tennis, life and the arts. Legend gone too soon. Proud to continue his passion and dedication.

Jimmy, you were such a profile in courage. You went through so very much these last two years with your arduous battle with cancer. Your strength and unwavering spirit inspired everyone around you, showing us all what true resilience looks like. I will miss you so very much, little brother, but your life’s work will live on through the legacy of your coaching and creative genius. Fly high!

Jimmy was a gift . A beautiful soul. He will be forever missed by all those who loved him.