Dr. Anthony Pappas

In his 45th year as head coach of Waterloo West High School and 47th 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. He was a Finalist for the National High School Athletic Coaches Association National Coach of The Year award in 2017. 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