Basketball has been a profound part of Scott Peak’s life.
And at age 51, he’s now a first-time varsity head coach and couldn’t be more excited about it.
The journey to this point wasn’t the common path, but the game itself has always been a big part of his life.
The son of a successful college basketball coach – Paul Peak, a member of the Texas A&M-Commerce hall of fame – Peak spent a part of his adult life in a different career before returning to the bench.
After returning to education in 2022 as a teacher and assistant coach of Lake Creek boys basketball, Peak was promoted to head coach this past April.
Peak takes over a Lions program that has seen plenty of success since the school opened in 2018. He was an assistant last season under Justin Lanham, who left after one season to pursue an opportunity outside of education.
Lanham and Peak were paired last year as Peak was looking to get back into the classroom and the gymnasium in a full-time setting. The two were in contact about a possible opening on Lanham’s bench a year ago, but Peak was certified in social studies and there weren’t any openings there at the school. Until one day there was an opening and Lanham eventually got his right hand man in Peak.
“That was all it took,” Peak said. “I was on board immediately. Justin and I are buddies and friends and we hit it off from the beginning.”
Peak, a 1990 graduate of Georgetown High School, grew up around the game. He went on to play one season of college ball – for his dad Paul, a practitioner of the motion offense.
“I was a good high school player, but I wouldn’t say I was a good college player,” Peak said. “It was more that he got the job late at East Texas State (what Texas A&M-Commerce was known as back then), he didn’t have time to recruit and it was, ‘You get to play, son.’ It was a great year for me. I sat the bench, but I learned a lot.”
The team won just three games that season.
Scott Peak eventually went to work for his father. Two years as a grad assistant and two more as an assistant.
It was then that Scott Peak met his future wife, Joanna, who was a grad assistant for the women’s basketball team.
After college, Peak came to The Woodlands High School where he coached under Shawn Almond until leaving in 2003. He went to Spring ISD, where he coached junior high under Larry Brown at Westfield and then along with Chris Bailes at Spring High. Peak said he is also influenced and learned a ton from Glenn Arnold at Klein High, who coached his sons.
“I’ve been able to coach with and for a lot of really good coaches,” Peak said. “I feel like my dad was an outstanding coach and he probably had the biggest impact. I’ve been under Shawn Almond for three years, Larry Brown for two years – he’s pretty much a legend. Chris Bailes at Spring – he’s a legend.”
In a decision made with family in mind, Peak pivoted careers and joined the Houston Police Department well over a decade ago.
“At that particular time – two babies and a mortgage – HPD was offering a $12,000 sign-on bonus,” Peak said. “It was kind of a family decision at that time.”
Even while serving as a patrolman for five years and as a member of the motorcycle squad for seven years, Peak never strayed away from basketball.
He coached his two sons — Preston and David — and also spent some time helping a friend coach AAU.
“I felt like I was a teacher and a coach all along,” Peak said.
The itch came back after over 12 years in law enforcement. Peak took substitute jobs and sales jobs while preparing to return to educating youth full time.
Last year as he served as an assistant, Lake Creek extended its playoff streak to five straight years.
Returning to basketball after over a decade away had some challenges. But it wasn’t too overwhelming for Peak.
When last coached, social media in its current form wasn’t prevalent and the AAU scene was different.
“It really came back super quick,” Peak said. “Quicker than I thought it would. Part of that I’ll credit to Lanham because he ran such a good program. He ran some of the best practices I’ve ever seen.”
As Peak explained, there’s a lot of parallels between coaching and being a police officer. It can have some similar skill sets that convert.
As Lake Creek went 22-14 last season and made the playoffs with the fourth-place spot out of District 21-5A, Peak enjoyed his only season working with Lanham. The junior varsity went 25-4 under Peak’s guidance.
When returning to education, Peak figured he would be an assistant coach for at least five years before possibly one day finding that head coaching job.
He didn’t figure one year after coming to Lake Creek that he would head up the program.
“I’m thankful it worked out like this and I’m happy for Justin that he got an opportunity he couldn’t pass up,” Peak said. “It’s a privilege, but I feel real thankful.”
Peak coached the junior varsity and was on the varsity bench last year, so that helped forge relationships that have made this transition so smooth.
Six seniors are gone from last year, including Montgomery County Offensive MVP Braedon Bigott and a stalwart in the paint in Seth Cantu.
“That’s tough to replace,” Peak said. “But I definitely have good relationships built with all the players. Coach Lanham involved me a lot with the varsity program as his main assistant.”
