Not only was this a year of unprecedented success at Mercer Island High School in sports, but it also represented a year of change. As ever, students started and finished their high school careers, but the coaches who taught them about life and the game changed, some for the first time in decades. In many cases, the new head coaches were MIHS alumni, returning to foster the athletic hopes of a younger generation.

Longtime boys basketball coach Ed Pepple announced his retirement in March. His replacement, Gavin Cree, was a player under Pepple and graduated from MIHS.

After boys and girls swim coach Jeff Lowell announced he was leaving to accept a new position at Interlake High School, Chauntelle Johnson — an assistant under Lowell — took over both the boys and girls teams. Johnson helped the girls win their first state title in 11 years, crediting the system that Lowell created during his time at the school.

Brett Ogata began his head coaching job for the MIHS football team this fall, after serving as an assistant and quarterbacks coach at Skyline High School in Sammamish. He is also a MIHS grad.

Girls volleyball coach Susan Rindlaub took over as head coach for Dino Annest, another longtime coach who finished his career after the Islanders went to state last season. Rindlaub, who played for Annest during her time at Mercer Island High School, helped the team make the district tournament.

Days after a successful boys tennis season finished at the KingCo tournament, head tennis coach Joyce Hedlund passed away after suffering a massive stroke. A replacement for the longtime coach has not been announced by the school.