One of Texas' most familiar and legendary private coaches in the Dallas area died late last week. Fahim Minkah was at the Bob Alpert Relays at Duncanville High School in Duncanville on Thursday evening when he passed.
Unconfirmed reports are that Minkah suffered a heart attack and fell at the meet. EMS was called and Minkah was declared deceased in the ambulance. He was 78 years old.
"I would like to send condolences on behalf of Duncanville Track and Field for any coach that had the pleasure of having a relationship with Coach Minkah," Duncanville head coach Leon Paul said.
Minkah had been involved in coaching local youth track and field athletes for many years. His specialties were the hurdle events. One of the many athletes he coached was his son, Kenneth Minkah, formerly of DeSoto High School, who won the 2010 UIL 5A state meet in the 110H and placed second in the 300H in 2011. His PRs in those events were 13.62 and 36.43, respectively, in high school, and he eventually ran at Texas A&M University.
Minkah continued to coach in recent years, even working with 2017 UIL 6A state champion hurdler Kaylor Harris.