Auburn Riverside girls basketball coach Derek Pegram resigns after 23-2 season

Derek Pegram has resigned as the girls basketball coach at Auburn Riverside High School.

Pegram coached the Ravens to at least a share of back-to-back 3A SPSL titles. Auburn Riverside was 23-0 this past season before losing its first game of the season in the 3A West Central/Southwest bidistrict title game against Lincoln. It followed with a loss in the regional round of the 3A state tournament against Edmonds-Woodway to finish 23-2.

Pegram, 26, is a graduate of Auburn Riverside.

“Being a head coach takes an incredible amount of energy and at this time in my life, I believe it is time for new leadership to take over,” Pegram said in an email. “This has been one of the most difficult decisions I’ve had to make.”

And a surprising one.

Auburn Riverside is slated to return the core of its team next year, including points guard and 3A SPSL MVP McKenzi Williams, a junior. First-team post Faith Turner is also a junior, as is second-team guard Olivia Denton.

“I have been fortunate to have had the opporutnity to work with some great players, parents and coaches here at Auburn Riverside High School,” Pegram said. “Saying goodbye to my returning players is the hardest part of all of this. I will miss the day to day in the season with some of the finest student athletes and coaches here at AR.”

Auburn Riverside athletic director Doug Aubert said he and Pegram had had talks about Pegram’s future throughout the season. Aubert said they hope to fill the position before June, about the time summer basketball begins.

“(Pegram) didn’t want to leave the cupboard bare,” Aubert said.

This story was originally published March 29, 2016 at 1:12 PM with the headline "Auburn Riverside girls basketball coach Derek Pegram resigns after 23-2 season."