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Saint Francis High School Mourns Legendary Gymnastics Coach Lynn Horiye’s Passing After a Nearly Four-Decade Career Marked by 20 CCS Championships

By Michael Hansen

Saint Francis High School Mourns Legendary Gymnastics Coach Lynn Horiye’s Passing After a Nearly Four-Decade Career Marked by 20 CCS Championships

His presence will be deeply missed, but his impact on the Saint Francis community and beyond will endure for generations.

December 20, 2026

This article was last updated by Alisha Shrestha on December 19, 2026

The Saint Francis High School community in Mountain View, California, is mourning the loss of Coach Lynn Horiye, a dedicated educator and legendary gymnastics coach who touched countless lives over nearly four decades.

Horiye, who retired last spring, recently passed away, leaving a strong legacy of mentorship and dedication to his students and the school.

In a heartfelt Facebook post, Saint Francis High School announced the sad news, writing-

“It is with a heavy heart that we share the news of the passing of Coach Lynn Horiye, a longtime educator who retired last spring after nearly four decades at Saint Francis. For many years, he was the head varsity gymnastics coach, and during his tenure, his teams went on to win 20 CCS championships; he remains the winningest gymnastics coach in CCS history.
Beyond coaching gymnastics, Coach Lynn also served our students and educators in other roles. He coached JV and varsity girls tennis, served as a prefect and a substitute teacher, helped in the Dean’s Office and kept stats for countless Lancer basketball and football teams.
Coach Lynn deeply loved the Saint Francis community and the Brothers of Holy Cross, and we will miss him.”

Via

Horiye joined Saint Francis High School in 1986 as a, quickly becoming a fixture on campus.

Originally from Deweyville, Utah, he resided in San Mateo, California, in recent years. He attended San Mateo High School and graduated from San Jose State University in 1974.

His service extended beyond education; he spent six years in the U.S. Army Reserve.

His coaching career was rich and varied. In addition to his iconic role at Saint Francis, Horiye served as a gymnastics coach and instructor at Sunnyvale Gymnastics Club, an assistant girls gymnastics coach at San Jose State University, and a gymnastics coach/instructor at Kutsher’s Sports Academy.

In 2017, he was honored by his peers as the CCS Honor Coach for girls’ tennis, a testament to his versatility and impact across sports.

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Tributes have poured in from those who knew him best.

Marc White from Kutsher’s Sports Academy shared,

“All of our KSA Family are saddened to learn of the passing of long-term KSA Coach Lynn Horiye. Lynn was a cherished and loved part of our community for three decades. He was known as not only a fantastic gymnastics coach, but also an all-around staff member who would always be cheerful and willing to do whatever was asked of him to make KSA a great place for campers and staff. He will be missed.”

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Former gymnast Kathy Tran Wilson wrote emotionally about her experience under Horiye’s guidance,

“I was informed earlier today from my old teammate, Karin Silvestri, that our SFHS gymnastics coach had passed away. I didn’t want to believe it. But now, I have no choice. When I made the JV team I was the worst person on the team. By the time I left, I was Co-Captain and MVP. Lynn Horiye was such a part of my high school experience that I gave him a shout out in my Senior quote under my grad photo. It said something like ‘As a Freshman, I walked as I entered. Now I leave, able to fly. Thank you, Lynn, for everything.’ I was lucky to see him when we came home for the grand reunion. I shed tears today for a man who cared about his community, mentored students for decades, kept us safe, and was truly beloved.”

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She added that Horiye’s family is requesting photos or videos of him coaching from former gymnasts. These can be sent to Matt Maguire at Saint Francis High School for a memorial video.

Jason Park, a former colleague and alumnus, also paid tribute,

“I am saddened to hear about the passing of my former colleague Coach Lynn Horiye. During his decades of service at Saint Francis High School, I saw firsthand how he showed up for students in countless ways as a coach, a mentor, an educator, and a steady presence in the life of the school. He was and remains an inspiration to me as an alumnus and former educator at SFHS. It is clear how deeply he cared and how many lives he touched along the way. His legacy lives on in the generations of students, educators, and families who were shaped by his commitment, discipline, and faith in young people. Holding his loved ones, former students, colleagues, and the Saint Francis community in my thoughts during this time. May his memory be a blessing.”

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Coach Lynn Horiye’s dedication went far beyond wins and championships, he built confidence, fostered growth, and created lasting bonds.

His presence will be deeply missed, but his impact on the Saint Francis community and beyond will endure for generations.

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