TAMPA - Riding a bus through the night, somewhere in the area or across the state, the phone held by Tampa Catholic basketball coach Don Dziagwa would ring.
The name appeared on the screen: Nick DiMaggio.
Mr. DiMaggio's deep, peaceful voice came through, "How did you do?"
They talked a few minutes about the game.
What happened? You need anything? How are you?
I'll see you tomorrow.
Year after year after year for decades, Mr. DiMaggio's voice found Dziagwa. Until last Wednesday, when he died from complications related to a stroke. He was 86.
It is strange.
Mr. DiMaggio was always, always, there.
Few times in the history of the Tampa Bay area has a man been so ingrained, so faithful, so dedicated, so full of love for a school as Mr. DiMaggio was to Tampa Catholic.
A Tampa native who graduated from Jesuit, earned a pair of bachelor's degrees at Florida Southern College, served in the Korean War and coached eight years at East Bay High, Mr. DiMaggio came to Tampa Catholic in 1964 as the head track coach and an assistant football coach.
From there, he never left, as in he almost literally never left the place.
When he wasn't coaching the track team (for 34 years), Mr. DiMaggio served, often simultaneously, as athletic director (for 36 years) until he retired in 2002.
"Nick basically lived at TC," said Dziagwa, the school's current athletic director and boys basketball coach for the past 27 years. "I think he pretty much was here when he wasn't sleeping."
Even after he retired, Mr. DiMaggio never left.
Right up to the end, Mr. DiMaggio, who actually lived about a mile from Tampa Catholic, wore his green shirts at every home game for every sport and often at away games. The next day, he often dropped by Dziagwa's office to see how everything was going.
Along the way, he was never intrusive, disrespectful, judgmental or obnoxious. He was pleasant, peaceful, happy and happy to help. He let his coaches do their jobs. He hired them and then he trusted them.
He led by example, quietly giving 100 percent to the school, quietly setting a tone of efficiency and excellence.
He was a winner.
As a track coach, he won more than 400 meets, 23 district titles and coached 51 athletes to individual state titles.
Under his realm as athletic director, Tampa Catholic won eight state baseball titles, two softball titles and two basketball titles. The baseball, volleyball, wrestling and boys and girls soccer teams also finished as state runners-up and made numerous final-four appearances.
"But he remained humble," said Hillsborough County Property Appraiser Bob Henriquez, a 1982 Tampa Catholic grad who ran track and played football for Mr. DiMaggio and later was hired by him as head football coach. "He was a father figure for many, many people. He is one of the people I looked up to."
On Tuesday at St. Lawrence Catholic Church, Dziagwa is scheduled to speak at Mr. DiMaggio's memorial service. Never short on talking about someone he loves, Dziagwa admitted his concerns about holding his emotions.
Dziagwa said that's partly because Mr. DiMaggio never made it about himself. It was about how much Mr. DiMaggio loved the school and those who worked and played there.
Mr. DiMaggio always asked Don, "How did you do?"
Nick never asked Don, "How did I do?"
He never had to.
Mr. DiMaggio was so good at his job, and his life, that it quietly, calmly, gracefully, lovingly, got done.
How did Mr. DiMaggio do?
"He did great," Dziagwa said. "He was the best."
Contact Scott Purks at hillsnews@tampabay.com.