Remembrances of Ed Pepple will shine at center court during an upcoming celebration of his life and career in the Mercer Island High School (MIHS) gymnasium.
The legendary and influential Islander boys basketball head coach — who made an immense impact on the court, throughout the city and beyond — passed away from cancer at the age of 88 on Sept. 14, 2020, and several people associated with the program are organizing a community gathering to honor Pepple at 2 p.m. on Oct. 1.
“It should be a special event. I think it will be pretty heartfelt. We want to do it up to coach P’s standards, so that’s the goal,” said former MIHS team manager David Sanford, who is framing the event with former player and current Islander head coach Gavin Cree and Ruth Ann Biggers, mother of former player, Duke. The trio has the blessing of the Pepple family to bring the event to life.
Pepple retired from MIHS in March 2009 after 42 seasons at the helm and four state championships. He is Washington state’s winningest basketball coach with 952 victories during his 49 seasons overall, and the Islander was league and state coach of the year numerous times and is a member of three separate Halls of Fame.
Duke recently sent his mom the following vital Pepple quotes that have remained with him to this day: “Practice doesn’t make perfect. Perfect practice makes perfect” and “If you’re not early, you’re late.”
Similar inspirational quotes will surely fill the air at the Oct. 1 event, which will feature a host of speakers and video recordings from people who can’t attend. A reception will take place at the Island VFW hall afterward for people to continue reminiscing about Pepple and reconnecting with their former teammates.
“The reality is, if we had everybody talk who had something to say about coach and how he impacted their life, we could be there for weeks,” said Sanford, adding that Pepple imparted copious values on those he connected with, including teamwork, honor, respect for self and others, positive attitude, preparation and perseverance.
Sanford and others soaked up an abundance of life lessons when they were in Pepple’s presence.
As team manager for four seasons, Sanford experienced the team’s last state crown in 1999 and a second-place finish in 2022. Sanford noted that Pepple provided crucial mentorship for him and others during their formative years in the MIHS realm.
“I know that I, and I’m sure it’s true for others as well, we apply those lessons on a weekly if not daily basis. Our lives still today, decades later, and I’m sure that reverberates throughout the community both as teenagers and beyond,” Sanford said.
As an added bonus to the event, the organizers have discussed announcing Pepple’s accomplishments in a similar way the coach honored members of the varsity squad at the close of each season.
Termed a “blackout” event, Sanford said the lights would be turned out in the school auditorium and a spotlight shone on each player as Pepple reflected on their time in the program. Following the event, seniors would leave their maroon blazers on the back of the seats to be worn by the next batch of Pepple’s players.
To RSVP for the event, email honoringcoachp@gmail.com.
