The Arcadia High School (AHS) community is mourning the loss of Coach Niko Fontanilla, the strength and conditioning coach for the AHS Boys Varsity Basketball team. Coach Fontanilla passed away on Sunday, May 17, after being involved in a motorcycle accident. His passing shocked and saddened athletes, coaches, friends, and family members because of the positive impact he had on so many people.
Coach Fontanilla was known for always bringing positive energy to the program. He spent countless hours working with players at practices and workouts, which helped them grow stronger. Players saw him as more than just a coach; he cared about everyone and always pushed people to be the best version of themselves.
After news of his passing spread, many people including family members and colleagues online shared messages showing how much Coach Fontanilla meant to them. Local sports page SGVN Sports and Los Angeles Times reporter Eric Sondheimer also shared posts to honor him and show the big impact he had on the basketball community.
“It hurts,” AHS Boys Varsity Basketball head coach Nick Wallace said. AHS senior and Boys Varsity Basketball player Morgan Lin added, “He always pushed the team to be better every day. He always believed in us, and practices and games won’t feel the same without him.”
The GoFundMe to support the Fontanilla family states, “Niko was the kind of dad every player and every program hopes for. Always present, always supportive, always encouraging, and always there for his family and his daughter’s dreams. Niko was a devoted family man who loved his wife and three children deeply. He showed up for people. He supported others. He loved hard.”
To honor Coach Fontanilla there will be a viewing held at Forest Lawn Hollywood Hills. The viewing will take place on June 7, from 11:30 a.m.-9 p.m., and June 8, from 5:00-9:00 p.m. There will be a Celebration of Life mass at St. James The Less Catholic Church on Tuesday, June 9, at 10 a.m. Information about the event was shared through an Instagram post, so the community could come together to remember him. The celebration will give people the chance to show their respect and support the Fontanilla family.
“It’s really sad seeing what happened to the coach. I feel bad for his family and people close to him,” said AHS freshman Kenzo Duong.
Even though Coach Fontanilla has passed, his impact on Arcadia basketball and the community will be remembered. The players he trained and the people he inspired will never forget his dedication. He helped many students be more confident in their skills.
“We are deeply saddened by the passing of AHS Boys Basketball strength and conditioning coach Niko Fontanilla. This is a heartbreaking loss for our school community, and our thoughts are with the Fontanilla family during this incredibly difficult time,” said AHS Principal Jorge Muñoz.
