In his 45th year as head coach of Waterloo West High School and 48th year overall as a head coach.  As a prep athlete, he played on Mason City High School basketball and baseball teams that participated in five state tournaments while winning two state championships.  He achieved All-State and Honorable Mention All-American status while playing at Mason City High School.  He has won numerous Coach of the Year Awards, including:  being named the National Federation of High School's National Girl's Basketball Coach of the Year in 2015.  He was the recipient of the Morgan Wooten Lifetime Achievement Award bestowed by the Naismith National Basketball Hall of Fame in April, 2016.  In addition, he was awarded the Golden Plaque of Distinction by the Iowa High School Girls Athletic Union in March, 2016--the highest coaching award given by the IGHSAU. He was inducted into the Iowa Girls Coaches Association's State Basketball Hall of Fame in 2005, and was a Finalist for the National High School Athletic Coaches Association National Coach of The Year award in 2017. In August, 2022,  Dr. Pappas inducted into the Mason City High School Athletic Hall of Fame. He is the only Iowa coach to be selected to coach in both the McDonald's High School All-American game and the WBCA All-American game--both televised by ESPN.  Dr. Pappas has coached numerous Division I recruits and has taken several Wahawk teams to the Iowa Girls State Basketball Tournament.

Coaching Record:  663-397

State Tournaments:  11 State Tournament Berths--including 8 Final Four appearances and 3 State Runner Ups

Dr. Pappas' Resume (click here)

• Recipient of the 2016 Morgan Wootten Lifetime Achievement Award

• Recipient of the 2016 Golden Plaque of Distinction Award—Bestowed by the IGHSAU

• Selected as the 2015 NFHS National Girls Basketball Coach of the Year

• Inducted into the Iowa Girl’s Coaches Association Basketball Hall of Fame, April, 2005

• National High School Athletic Coaches Association Nominee for National Coach Of The Year--2017

• Coached the 1999 National High School Player of the Year (USA Today, Parade, WBCA)

• Coached the MVP of the 1993 NAIA Women’s National Championships

• Coached the MVP of the 1992 NCAA Division I Women’s Final Four and National Junior College Player of the Year

• Coached the MVP of the 1989 National Junior College Women’s National Championships and National Junior College Player of the Year

• Had teams ranked in the Top 20 of the State of Iowa in 30 of the last 37 Years

• State Runner-Up 3 times in the 4-A Iowa State Tournament—has qualified for 8 Final Fours & 10 State Qualifiers

• 1997 Team ranked 15th in USA Today, 1998 Team ranked 8th in USA Today, 1999 Team ranked 14th in USA Today, 2002 Team ranked 9th in Street and Smith

• Done one-man clinics in several major cities in both the United States, Canada, and Australia

• Has produced three of the top selling video tapes on offensive low post play and also produced video tapes/dvds on shooting, perimeter play, rebounding, and zone defense

• Had 24 high school players sign with a Division I school

• Over 15,000 basketball players have attended his post clinics

• Has been a guest speaker for the: NCAA, IGHSAU, IACA, IADA, IBCA, WBCA & USA Basketball

• Selected as the Site Director for the NIKE / Blue Star National Elite Basketball Camps (Blue Star 30)

• Selected as Floor Director for the NIKE All-American Camp in Indianapolis, IN and St. Louis, MO

• Coached four different teams that competed internationally in Europe, Australia, and Canada and currently has a 19-game winning streak on three different continents

• Has won many National and State Coach of the Year awards

• Site Director for the Blue Star Collegiate Post Camps held across America                 

• Has had several articles published in national magazines and newspapers and produced basketball videos/dvds that are sold all over the world

• Has had teams ranked Nationally in 1989, 1997, 1998, 1999, and 2002

• Has had two players play professionally in the WNBA and four in Europe

• Past regional scout for the Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA)

• Finalist for the WBCA National Coach of the Year Award; selected to coach in the NIKE/WBCA All-American Game - April 1998 (Televised on ESPN)

• Selected as a Coach for the 2011 McDonald’s All American Game in March, 2011 -- (Televised on ESPN)

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“One of the best clinicians in women’s basketball today.”

--Dick Weiss, New York Daily News

“One of the most respected high school coaches in the nation.”

--Steve Tucker, Chicago Sun Times

“On a national level he is known as one of the top high school coaches in America,

and to the game’s insiders he is recognized as one of the premier teachers of the game.”

--Mike Flynn, Formerly of USA Today 

President Blue Star Basketball Camps