The football coach at Rio Linda High School died in a freak accident on Monday night.

Marion Adams, who coached track as well as football, was riding his bike home from practice on Monday night when he was impaled by a parking garage gate.

The Sacramento Bee reports that Adams was leaving practice on his bike when he turned around to say goodbye to his players. That second of distracted peddling would prove to be fatal as Adams didn’t see the partially open metal gate until it was too late.

Mike Morris, the athletic director at the school, said: “Marion was the most popular and nicest man on campus; just a great guy… It’s a huge loss, devastating to our community.”

Adams, who graduated from Rio Linda High School in 1972, returned to his Alma Mater recently to take up a coaching job. His bother, David, said that Marion gave up a high paying job in order to start his high school coaching career.

Adams brother, Davis added: “Marion loved kids, loved seeing them do well… He absolutely loved Rio Linda. He gave up a job that paid really well to teach and coach at his favorite school.”

Here’s a video report about the freak accident that took coach Marion Adams’ life.

Marion Adams is survived by his wife Kathy, and his two children Joe and Sarah. He also leaves behind seven siblings, his mother, and two grandchildren.

Terry Ray, the Rio Linda High boys basketball coach, said: “Still in shock… I know people say this a lot about people, that they’re great when we lose them, but Marion Adams was a wonderful man and teacher.”

Fox News reports that hundreds of people turned out for a vigil for coach Adams on Tuesday night.