Paul George's High School Basketball Coach Retires After 20 Years, 500 Wins

Tom Hegre says he's retiring from being a teacher, athletic director and coach at Pete Knight where he coached Paul George many moons ago.

Published on Feb. 14, 2026

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Tom Hegre, the varsity basketball coach at Pete Knight High School in Palmdale, California, has announced his retirement after 30 years of coaching and over 500 career wins. Hegre is most notably known for coaching NBA superstar Paul George when he was a high school player, helping the Hawks reach the Division 2AA final in 2008.

Why it matters

Hegre's retirement marks the end of an era for high school basketball in the Palmdale area, as he has been a fixture at Pete Knight High for the past 20 years, leading the program to three CIF finals appearances and a championship in 2025. His departure will leave big shoes to fill for the next coach, who will have to maintain the Hawks' dominance in the Golden League, including a 50-game winning streak in league play.

The details

During his tenure, Hegre amassed an impressive overall record of 515-274, including leading the Hawks to the CIF Southern Section Division 3AA title last season with a 64-43 win over Sage Hill. He is most known for coaching Paul George, who averaged 23.2 points per game as a senior in 2008 and went on to become a 9-time NBA All-Star after starring at Fresno State and being a lottery pick in the 2010 NBA Draft.

  • Hegre announced his retirement on February 14, 2026.
  • Hegre has been the head coach at Pete Knight High School for the past 20 years.
  • Hegre's Hawks lost in the opening round of the CIF Southern Section Division 3 playoffs on February 12, 2026.

The players

Tom Hegre

The retiring head basketball coach at Pete Knight High School in Palmdale, California, where he has coached for the past 20 years and amassed over 500 career wins.

Paul George

An NBA superstar who played for Hegre at Pete Knight High School, helping the Hawks reach the Division 2AA final in 2008 before going on to star at Fresno State and become a 9-time NBA All-Star.

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What they’re saying

“It's been a great ride. I've never had any regrets. Knight has been a very special place to me. The parents and community have always been supportive of our program and I'll always have great memories.”

— Tom Hegre, Retiring Head Basketball Coach (High School On SI)

“I've always felt that we did it the right way at Knight. Our philosophy was always to develop young men on and off the court and get everything we can from our players.”

— Tom Hegre, Retiring Head Basketball Coach (High School On SI)

What’s next

Hegre says he plans to move back to Minnesota in the spring, but he didn't rule out the possibility of coaching again in the future, saying "I can't guarantee I'm done coaching."

The takeaway

Hegre's retirement marks the end of an era for high school basketball in Palmdale, as he has been a pillar of the community and a mentor to players like Paul George for the past two decades. His commitment to developing young men both on and off the court has left a lasting legacy, and the next coach will have big shoes to fill in maintaining the Hawks' dominance in the Golden League.