Thomas Philip Kierl, Jr.

Thomas Philip (Phil) Kierl, Jr. passed away suddenly at the age of 77 on July 7, 2024.

Phil, the oldest of ten children, was born on November 13, 1946, to Phil Sr. and Betty Kierl in Pittsburgh, KS. His father's military service took the family to Hawaii and Long Beach, CA before settling in Oklahoma City in 1957. That year, Phil started the fifth grade at Rosary Catholic School and later attended Bishop McGuinness Catholic High School. After high school, he attended the University of Notre Dame, where he pursued an Accounting degree. He went on to become a CPA and served in numerous leadership and volunteer positions as a business advisor.

“Coach,” as he was affectionately referred to by many of his former players, returned to OKC after graduating from Notre Dame and began coaching his brothers and sisters in basketball and other sports. A student of the game, he spent hours studying Bobby Knight, Coach K, and others. While basketball was his true passion, he even did his best to study and appreciate soccer. It cannot be understated what a tremendous impact he had on the hundreds of players he coached. He was not just a coach on the court but in life, often teaching life lessons and selflessly feeding and clothing his players. Phil had a heart of gold and anonymously donated to many programs at Rosary, McGuinness, and around the community. 

Besides coaching basketball, Phil loved golf and Notre Dame football. He spoke with pride about growing up in the “Catholic Ghetto” at 19th and Indiana and deeply loved his parish, St. Francis.

Phil's most prized possessions were his family, especially his four children, Philip, Barbie, Sarah, and Maggie, and his beloved dog, Corby.

Nothing made him happier than talking about his ten grandchildren: Carter and Cooper (Sarah), Vivian and Quinn (Philip), Luke, Nathan, and Owen (Maggie), and Addie, Taylor, and Jaeya (Barbie).

Phil is survived by his four children: Philip (Heather) Kierl, Barbara (Walter) Vann, Sarah (Clint) Croasdale, and Maggie (Clint) Fuhrmann, ten grandchildren, eight siblings, and countless nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, Phil and Betty Kierl, his sister, Tish Milligan, and his baby brothers Peter Francis and Stephen Kierl.

The family asks that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to the endowment for Rosary School (1919 NW 18th St., Oklahoma City, OK 73106) or the Bishop McGuinness Girl's Basketball program (801 NW 50th Street, OKC, OK 73118).