Annawan boys basketball Coach Alex Coppejans was recently recognized for becoming the all-time winningest coach in the history of the boys basketball program at Annawan High School.
After Saturday’s win over Galva, Coppejans eclipsed the previous record of 168 wins that was held by Coach Bruce Placek (1980-89). Coppejans’ overall record (as of February 1) is 170-113.
Now, in his tenth season at the helm of the Braves, Coppejans is also the longest-serving boys basketball coach in AHS history.
The AHS grad was a prominent member of the 2008-09 team that placed fourth at the IHSA Class 1A State Tournament under Coach Ryan Brown. During that season, Coppejans earned All-State First Team honors.
Coppejans’ experience as a player has served him well as a coach. When he took over the program in 2014 his first team finished with a record of 5-24. After having just one season under his belt, Coppejans started getting the program back on track.
Well, Coppejans, along with the abundance of talent that he’s been blessed to have under his fold throughout his 10-year tenure.
Although Coppejans’ first season was a struggle, the next three were pretty phenomenal. Those three teams (2015-18) amassed an overall record of 87-15 and 27-2 in the Lincoln Trail Conference.
Each of those three seasons also spawned three consecutive LTC titles (11-0, 8-1, 8-1) and three consecutive IHSA Class 1A regional titles.
The highlight of Coppejans’ career was the 2017-18 season. It stands as the program’s lone 30-plus win season (31-4) and includes regional, sectional and super-sectional titles as well as a state championship title appearance.
The Braves beat Sterling Newman Central Catholic, 59-44, in the IHSA Class 1A semifinals, but lost to Okawville, 59-48, in the championship game.
The Braves, however, brought home a big second place trophy that adorns the school’s overflowing trophy case. It was just Coppejans’ fourth season.
The most successful team since that state championship appearance was the 2018-19 team that had a record of 23-9 and won the LTC with a record of 8-1.
The current 2023-24 team is Coppejans’ fifth team in 10 years to reach or eclipse the 20-win benchmark. The Braves won the LaMoille Holiday Tournament and are 20-3 and are 6-0 in LTC play.
One of Coppejans’ former players, Ben Buresh, is now the boys frosh-soph coach at Annawan. Buresh was a key player on the 2017-18 team that won the Class 1A state runner-up trophy.
Alex is the son of AHS Class of 1978 alums Kenny and LuAnn (Baele) Coppejans. Kenny and LuAnn were also both standout players for Annawan High School.
*A special thank you to Dave Nanninga for many of the historical references in this story. Also to Mitch Colgan for access to the photo taken of Alex Coppejans.
Career highlights
• One 30-win season (31-4)
• Four 20-win seasons
• Four LTC titles
• Three regional titles
• One sectional title
• One super-sectional title
• One IHSA state tournament appearance (2nd place)
Seasons coached by Coppejans
1.) 2014-15: 5-24 (3-8)
2.) 2015-16: 27-7 (11-0)
• LTC champs, regional champs
3.) 2016-17: 29-4 (8-1)
• LTC champs, regional champs
4.) 2017-18: 31-4 (8-1)
• LTC champs, regional, sectional, super sectional champs, IHSA Class 1A Second Place
5.) 2018-19: 12-18 (5-4)
6.) 2019-20: 23-9 (8-1)
• LTC champs
7.) 2020-21: Covid year (1-4)
8.) 2021-22: 6-23 (2-9)
9.) 2022-23: 16-16 (8-3)
10.) 2023-24: 20-3, (6-0)
All-state players under Coppejans
Alex Landwehr, senior – (2015-16) – AP Class 1A Honorable Mention, IBCA 1A/2A Special Mention
Owen Landwehr, junior – (2016-17) – AP Class 1A Second Team, IBCA 1A/2A Second Team
Owen Landwehr, senior – (2017-18) – AP Class 1A First Team, IBCA 1A/2A First Team
Ben Buresh, senior – (2017-18) – AP Class 1A Honorable Mention, IBCA 1A/2A Third Team
Julian Samuels, senior – (2019-20) – AP Class 1A Third Team, IBCA 1A Third Team
