Coupeville Sports

  South Whidbey High School fans, supporting Henry Pope’s final Falcon team during the playoffs. (Shelli Trumbull photo)

Henry Pope

The death early Thursday of South Whidbey High School boys’ basketball coach Henry Pope has left a huge void in the Whidbey community.

Those interested in reaching out and helping his wife Teresa and young children can do so by contributing to a fund set up in his honor.

Donations will be accepted at any Whidbey Island Bank branch or can be mailed to 5590 South Harbor Ave, P.O. Box 628, Freeland, WA, 98249.

Checks should be written to “Pope Family Fund.”

Pope coached the Falcons girls’ basketball teams for many years, during which time his daughters played for him.

He then moved over to take the helm of the SWHS boys’ squad and had resurrected a program that had hit hard times. His coaching prowess was on full display when the Falcons nipped Coupeville in a hard-fought playoff game at Langley last winter.

In addition to his skills with X’s and O’s, Pope, who also worked at Boeing and was in his late 50’s, was remembered by fellow coaches for the way he conducted himself and how he brought out the best in his players.

“Henry was a class act on the court. An influential coach who loved the game and his community of Falcons,” said former CHS girls’ basketball coach Jackie Bykonen. “My prayers go out to his family and friends.”