More than just a dedicated coach, Alexander Alan Ruiz was a loving father, husband, and friend who touched the lives of many during his two years at Diamond Bar High School.

On Jan. 12, Ruiz collapsed on campus after water polo practice and later died at a local hospital.

The official cause of Ruiz’s death has not been determined, according to the San Gabriel Valley Tribune.

However, a brief explanation of the events of Ruiz’s collapse was given by interim principal Guy Roubian.

When leaving campus after practice, Ruiz collapsed in the parking lot. The other assistant water polo coaches were with him at the time and were able to initiate CPR until the paramedics arrived.

Ruiz still had a heartbeat when he was taken to the hospital, though he died shortly after.

DBHS students are still coping with the loss of their beloved coach and role model, including freshman Isabel Cambiaso, who wrote Ruiz a poem which she shared with several of her team members to help with the mourning process.

On Jan. 13, water polo team members were allowed to leave their normal class schedule in favor of receiving grief counseling from a group of professionals brought on campus.

“Coach Ruiz was the type of person you’d never forget after meeting. He was very caring and protective over us. Coach Ruiz was a wonderful person, and there won’t be a day that goes by where I won’t miss him,” senior varsity water polo player Mia Le said.

On Jan. 21, during an away game at Glendora, the girl’s water polo team was presented a card signed by all the players from the opposing team, a tree to plant on campus in honor of Ruiz, and purple and gold balloons, which the girls on the frosh-soph team released.

Ruiz had been involved with the water polo programs since its beginning in 2014. This year, Ruiz took on the responsibility of boy’s junior varsity head coach and girl’s frosh-soph head coach.

Besides being heavily involved in on-campus activities, Ruiz was a member of the U.S. Masters Swim Program and a competitor, instructor and student of the Red Dragon Karate Studio in Diamond Bar. Two of his children attend DBHS and another at Chaparral Middle School.

To help Ruiz’s family during this difficult time, a GoFundMe account has been set up to collect donations.

As of Jan. 24, over $11,000 has been raised by 131 people in ninedays. Many of those who donated have also been leaving short messages to share their condolences.

“No amount of money can repay what he’s done for me. My deepest sympathies for his family,” sophomore Hedric Pisigan wrote on the site.

In addition to the online fundraiser, the girls varsity water polo head coach Alexander Matal has been asking for donations in the form of gift cards, so that they can be presented to the Ruiz family.

A viewing for Ruiz will be held tomorrow and Friday from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Pierce Brothers Mortuary in Chino. Following the viewing will be a mass on Saturday at 10 a.m. at St. Paul the Apostle Church in Chino Hills.

“More than anything, we are going to miss our daily connection with him around the pool deck,” Matal said via email, “The struggles, the laughs, the smiles, the conversations and his big heart.”