PRESTON POPE IS CO-FOUNDER AND DIRECTOR OF BASKETBALL OPERATIONS AT WATERLOO. HE ALSO SERVES AS THE ATHLETIC DIRECTOR AND MIDDLE & HIGH SCHOOL GUIDE AT ACTON ACADEMY WEST—ONE OF THE MOST FORWARD THINKING SCHOOLS IN THE COUNTRY. HIS FOCUS IS ON HELPING YOUNG ATHLETES DISCOVER WHO THEY ARE AND WHAT THEY ARE CAPABLE OF, GUIDING THEM TO GROW AS PLAYERS, THINKERS, AND LEADERS.

RAISED IN SANTA CLARITA, CALIFORNIA, PRESTON BEGAN HIS BASKETBALL JOURNEY PLAYING FOR KENNY SMITH’S AIM HIGH AAU PROGRAM UNDER COACH VINCE SMITH. IN HIGH SCHOOL, HE COMPETED IN BASKETBALL, TRACK, AND CROSS COUNTRY, BEFORE CONTINUING AS A TRACK AND FIELD ATHLETE AT THE UNIVERSITY OF OKLAHOMA, WHERE A BACK INJURY REDIRECTED HIS FOCUS FROM COMPETING TO COACHING.

PRESTON REFINED HIS SKILLS TRAINING AT VALENTINE ELITE BASKETBALL, HELPING TRAIN HIGH SCHOOL, COLLEGE, OVERSEAS, AND NBA G LEAGUE PLAYERS. NOTABLE PLAYERS INCLUDE ISAIAH ELOHIM OF SIERRA CANYON, NOW AT FLORIDA ATLANTIC UNIVERSITY.

AT ACTON ACADEMY WEST, PRESTON LEADS SOCRATIC DISCUSSIONS AND CREATES ACTIVITIES THAT FOSTER COLLABORATION, PROBLEM-SOLVING, AND CREATIVITY—PRINCIPLES HE BRINGS TO HIS COACHING. HIS PHILOSOPHY USES THE LESSONS IN BASKETBALL TO NATURALLY BUILD CHARACTER, CONFIDENCE, AND INDEPENDENT THINKING.

OUTSIDE OF COACHING, PRESTON ENJOYS READING, WATCHING SPORTS, AND SPENDING TIME WITH FAMILY AND FRIENDS. HIS MISSION IS TO BUILD ATHLETES AND COMMUNITIES WHO ARE SELF-AWARE, THOUGHTFUL, AND CAPABLE OF MAKING DELIBERATE CHOICES ON AND OFF THE COURT.