Pope resigns after eight blessed seasons at Silverado

Spencer Patterson

Friday, May 31, 2002 | 9:28 a.m.

The man who built Silverado's softball program into of the state's most consistent winners in any sport has retired from coaching.

Chuck Pope, who took the Skyhawks to the state tournament in all eight of his seasons on the job, has turned in his resignation. He said he plans to pursue a future in school administration.

"It's time for me to raise my own daughter and my child on the way, and let all my other adopted daughters go onto their own lives," the 53-year-old Pope said.

"There is a great group of kids coming back, so there's never a good time to stop coaching, but my wife and I have been talking about it since last summer."

Pope finishes with a 270-67 record at Silverado, having won a zone or regional championship in all eight seasons. His teams placed second at state twice and reached the final four six times.

"The number one thing I'll miss are the kids," Pope said. "You get to see growth beyond what you see in the classroom, on the field in real life situations."

Pope coached for 20 years in Colorado and one season at Valley before helping Silverado open in the fall of 1994.

Las Vegas' Bob Beskow and Cheyenne's Larry Johnson will coach the all-star squads, with Gorman's C.J. Watson, Cheyenne's Johnny Wheeler, Desert Pines' Derek Brown and Las Vegas' Jeremy Atwater among the players slated to participate. Admission to both games is $5.

Bishop Gorman basketball player Brandon Knott, a member of the school's 2000 and 2002 state title squads, has signed with Westmont College in Santa Barbara, Calif. Also, Gorman running back Quintin Jones, the Gaels' leading rusher in 2001, has signed with Minnesota State University.

Green Valley pitcher Paul Vignola has earned an appointment to the Air Force Academy, where he is expected to play baseball.

Las Vegas High basketball player Jeremy Atwater, a 2002 Sun All-State first-teamer, has signed with Casper College in Casper, Wyo. The 6-4 Atwater averaged 15.8 points and 10.2 rebounds last winter.