Jeff Patrick knows what it takes to build a champion. The second year Juanita High School boys basketball head coach grew up on Mercer Island, learning from the best the state has ever produced – legendary head coach Ed Pepple. Patrick eventually took his knowledge to Issaquah High School as the head coach, carving out a name of his own with 133 wins and moving out of his mentor’s shadow. His teams played in the state tournament four times, reaching the state finals once and produced a rivalry with Pepple’s Islanders during the early part of this decade. But now Patrick is in a different place – literally and figuratively.

The Rebels, who used to be the Islanders biggest rival when Patrick was growing up, finished with double-digit losses during his first season. And with the recent retirement of Pepple, Patrick is now the senior most KingCo basketball coach.

“It will be interesting this year,” said Patrick. “I guess I am the gray beard now.”

Patrick’s 2006 state final team was packed with home-grown talent, including current NBA developmental league player Garrison Carr. The team was defeated during the finals by current New York Knick Nate Robinson’s Rainier Beach Vikings.

But Patrick’s experience and ability to teach a team ethic is invaluable for a program that has struggled.

“There are times when you wonder if you are doing it right,” said Patrick. “But when you have had that success it gives you the patience and perspective that is needed.”

Patrick’s patience helped built a youth program in Issaquah that fueled the Eagles’ success. Leaving what he built was not easy.

“It was really hard,” said Patrick. “I had a lot of great relationships.”

One big relationship led to his move to Juanita. His stepson Alex Rider, who plays for the Rebels, and his wife would not get to see the coach’s games and vice-versa. The commute to Issaquah also took away precious time out of the day.

“It just made sense and the timing was right,” said Patrick, clad in workout sweats and a t-shirt during a recent practice. “I think I left Issaquah in a good place.”

There is little yelling from the coach but his words, armed with his reputation, penetrate his players gray matter. But it will take more than that reputation to turn the Rebel’s into a title contender. The team will have to play well together and make few mistakes to overcome their lack of size. Injuries have taken a big bite out of the program as three key players, including football standout Kris Otterholt, Darious Mills and Lee Woodard, have been most likely lost for the season.

“Last year I think that we thought having him here was going to cure everything,” said Rebel Cole Graves. “But this year we know what we are doing and we know that part of it is that we have to leave everything out there every time.”

But Patrick’s effect was felt during the final game of the season last year. Despite finishing in the basement of KingCo, the Rebels made it to districts where they took O’Dea, one of the top seeded teams in the state, down to the final seconds.

“We gave them all they wanted,” said Patrick. “That game gave us momentum.”