Mike Morris said he didn't just lose a coaching friend, a teaching peer and a genuine personality in Marion Adams, a man sure to cause laughter with one-liners who had a penchant for wearing bright colors and Mickey Mouse ears.

Morris, Rio Linda High School's athletic director, swallowed hard in trying to comprehend the early Tuesday morning death of Adams, the school's track and field coach and multimedia teacher. Adams was 59.

Adams was riding his bicycle after Monday's track practice at Rio Linda, his alma mater, looked over his shoulder to say goodbye to a student and didn't see the partially open metal swing gate in the school parking lot. At his rate of speed, Adams was impaled by the gate arm.

He was rushed to Mercy San Juan Hospital and initially survived two surgeries to treat internal injuries, with the hallway and waiting room filled with well-wishers.

"Marion was the most popular and nicest man on campus; just....