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Sports prepare youth for life:...

Sports prepare youth for life: An Interview with Peter Diepenbrock

Peter Diepenbrock, well known for his success coaching Jeremy Lin’s high school basketball team at Palo Alto High School, discovered his passion for coaching at a young age. Diepenbrock was born and raised in the San Francisco Bay Area and attended Burlingame High School, Menlo College, and UCLA. He ended up coaching basketball in Copenhagen, Denmark after his college graduation – originally thinking he would be a physical therapist, but quickly realized that he was most passionate about coaching players and helping them reach their best potentials.

Diepenbrock stressed the importance of sports for young kids. “Sports teach us how to be successful in life,” Diepenbrock said, and he continued to list the values learned with sports including commitment, communication, passion, integrity, and building strong relationships.

Currently teaching PE classes at Palo Alto High School, Diepenbrock concluded that he wished that someone had told him, at a young age, that he was a strong basketball player. Diepenbrock strives to be the coach that leaves a positive impact on his players and to push them to be the best versions of themselves. He encourages young athletes to reach their highest potentials knowing that this will transition into their life outside of sports – a gift not many are lucky enough to receive.​