Legendary Waterloo basketball coach dies after 50-year career
Published: Oct. 27, 2026 at 1:30 PM CDT|Updated: 1 hour ago
WATERLOO, Iowa (KCRG) - A legendary coach in Waterloo has died.
Dr. Anthony Pappas coached girls basketball at Waterloo West. He died Tuesday morning after a fight with brain cancer.
He was 72.
Out of his 50-year career courtside, 47 of those were with the Wahawks.
Pappas led the Wahawks to 11 state tournament appearances, including three trips to the championship game.
He was inducted into the Iowa Girls Coaches Association’s State Basketball Hall of Fame in 2005.
He stepped down from coaching in April for health reasons.
The Waterloo School Board announced last month they will rename the West High gym after him.
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