Like father like son: Its Clinton Prairie's Chad Peckinpaugh's turn

FRANKFORT — Clinton Prairie head coach Chad Peckinpaugh was in elementary school sitting on the bench beside his father, the legendary McCutcheon coach Rick Peckinpaugh when the Mavericks won their first regional title in 1987.

From watching the game, to scoring 58 points against Fountain Central in 1995, being a former assistant coach and now leader of its own program — its time for Rick to enjoy the bench.

To watch and still provide helpful tips off the bench for Clinton Prairie, whose players stand like local celebrities in Frankfort, the town of 16,015 residents and where basketball founder James Naismith claimed as Indiana sport's epicenter.

Rick Peckinpaugh won 12 sectional titles, five regionals and one semi-state title before he retired in 2017.

Clinton Prairie Gophers head coach Chad Peckinpaugh yells down court Saturday, March 15, 2025, during the IHSAA boys basketball 1A regional championship game against the Central Catholic Knights at Frankfort High School in Frankfort, Ind. Clinton Prairie Gophers won 58-55.

"I can remember Chad helping lead the team out on the court when he was in the sixth or seventh grader," Rick Peckinpaugh said. "It's exciting. It's fun to watch him coach. I'm just so proud of him, watching him teach these kids how to play together and learn to play defense."

From storied Case Arena in Frankfort, the class A Gophers are running the show after winning their first regional title in history last Saturday.

Clinton Prairie (24-2) will face Triton (23-4) in the IHSAA semi-state round in Lafayette at noon on Saturday and with a victory, will face the winner of either Kouts (23-4) or Monroe Central (19-6) to decide who goes to Gainbridge Fieldhouse for the state title.

Now it's Chad's turn, having coached Clinton Prairie since 2019, to have the breakthrough season.

A father and son sharing the championship ride together.

"It's just a tremendous thing to have my father there after being there on the other side as a young kid," Chad Peckinpaugh said. "Watching him go through stuff, being able to play for him and coach with him. You kind of run the gambit there seeing it from all different angles and aspects. To see his pride and love for what we do just makes me very happy."

Ethan Hanson is the sports reporter for the Journal & Courier in Lafayette. He can be reached at ehanson@jconline.com, on Twitter at EthanAHanson and Instagram at ethan_a_hanson.

This article originally appeared on Lafayette Journal & Courier: Clinton Prairie coach Chad Peckinpaugh supported by dad Rick Peckinpaugh

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Like father like son: Its Clinton Prairie's Chad Peckinpaugh's turn

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