It is with deep heartbreak that we share the passing of Anthony Peppers, lovingly known to so many as Coach Pep. This afternoon, after a courageous and hard fought battle with cancer, Lubbock High School lost far more than an athletic trainer. We lost a pillar. We lost a protector. We lost family.

For years, Anthony was the quiet constant on campus. The one who taped ankles before the lights came on. The one who checked in when no one else noticed. The one who made sure our kids were okay not just physically, but as people. His care extended far beyond the training room. He showed up. Every day. With patience, compassion, and a heart bigger than his title.

To generations of students and athletes, Coach Pep was safety. He was reassurance in moments of fear, calm in moments of chaos, and encouragement when it was needed most. To his coworkers, he was dependable, kind, and deeply respected. To this campus, he was irreplaceable.

Cancer may have taken his body, but it never took his spirit, his love for students, or his commitment to this community.

Tonight, hallways feel quieter. Fields feel heavier. And an entire school mourns the absence of a man who gave so much of himself to others.

Our hearts and prayers are wrapped tightly around Anthony’s family, friends, coworkers, and every student whose life he touched. As details on how to support the family become available, they will be shared.

Please check on one another. Hold your people closer. And remember Coach Pep by showing the same kindness and care he gave so freely.

Rest easy, Coach. Your legacy lives on in every life you helped protect.