Clear Lake Falconhoops

On what should have been a day of celebration, the family of longtime Deer Park boys basketball coach Billy Carlisle was in shock after the man known for his fiery coaching style and endearing personality died suddenly Friday night.

"It's just shocking," said Buddy Carlisle, Billy's older brother and head boys basketball coach at Clear Creek. "We were supposed to have a big family dinner. Instead we're just trying to cope."

Billy Carlisle had complained of chest pains to his coaching staff and trainers early in the fourth quarter of Friday's game. He was given water and aspirin and finished Deer Park's 54-50 loss.

After the game, which ended at approximately 8:30 p.m., Carlisle was joined by his wife, Shannon, and parents in his office, where he continued to complain of chest pains.

"The trainer examined him, and they said he was sweating pretty bad," Buddy Carlisle said. "They decided to call an ambulance a few minutes later."

Paramedics performed CPR on Billy Carlisle after his heart stopped beating in the ambulance. He was pronounced dead when he arrived at the hospital at approximately 9:30 p.m.

Carlisle is survived by his wife and three sons: Wilson, 11, Weston, 10, and Wyndon, 7. He had no history of heart-related problems.

Carlisle was a member of Clear Lake's first graduating class in 1973, where he was an all-district basketball player.

He played at Baylor from 1973-77 and spent three years coaching and playing in Austria before returning to Deer Park in 1980. He started his Deer Park coaching stint as the sophomore coach from 1981-82. He coached junior varsity for four years before becoming head coach in 1986.

Carlisle also taught economics at Deer Park.

"He was an amazing man," Westfield assistant boys basketball coach Chris Gross said. "He got me my first coaching job at Deer Park Junior High in 1991. He was a respected, loved man."

A public visitation will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. on Monday at Deer Park United Methodist Church (100 E. 13th St. in Deer Park). A private burial will be held on Tuesday, and a public memorial service will be held in the fine arts hall at Deer Park beginning at 4 p.m. on Tuesday.

All District 23-5A and 24-5A boys basketball games scheduled for Tuesday have been moved to Wednesday so coaches and players from the districts will be able to attend the memorial service.

"There just aren't words to describe this," Deer Park ISD athletic director Jerry Creel said. "He was a great role model for students. Kids and teachers all looked up to him."