Charles "Bud" Scott

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Charles "Bud" Scott

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Punahou School's most-tenured and winningest basketball coach, Charles "Bud" Scott, passed away June 22 at his Kahala home, according to family members. He was 88.

Scott coached the Buffanblu from 1959 to 1974, save for 1962 when he was on sabbatical leave, compiling a 192-48 record. He led Punahou to five Interscholastic League of Honolulu titles and state championships in 1970 and 1974. His Punahou teams had 11 top-four finishes in the state tournament. His 15 seasons and 192 wins are the most of any Punahou basketball coach.

Before Punahou, he coached three seasons in the Big Island Interscholastic Federation, first at Laupahoehoe in 1956 and at Hilo in 1957 and 1958. He led the Vikings to the BIIF title in 1957 and a second-place finish in the inaugural state tournament. Overall, his record was 224-59.

After coaching, Scott served as Punahou's associate athletic director from 1978 to his retirement in 1991. He received the Ka'I ‘Alapa Award in 2014 from Punahou for his significant contributions to the school.  In his last year as an athletic administrator, he created the Scholar Athlete Achievement Award, according to the Punahou School website.

Scott coached a number of players who rose to prominence after graduating from Punahou. They include Norm Chow, who became one of the nation's top offensive football coordinators and later the head coach at the University of Hawaii; Charlie Wedemeyer, who became an inspiration through his battle with Lou Gehrig's disease while still coaching his California high school football team; and Mosi Tatupu, who became an NFL running back. Another of his former players, Chris McLachlin, would succeed Scott as basketball coach at Punahou in 1975. McLachlin coached Punahou to three state titles in eight seasons over four different stints.

Scott taught at Punahou since 1952, leaving for the three years he coached on the Big Island before he retiring in 1991. He hailed from Seattle, Wash. He earned a bachelor's degree from Western Washington and a master's from the University of Washington.

According to the family, Scott played collegiate baseball and basketball. He also played in the old Hawaii Major League and won the batting title with a .425 average in 1955. He also was a founder and president of the old Triple-A Hawaii Islanders Booster Club. He also was the recipient of the National Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association Hawaii State Award of Merit for outstanding leadership and meritorious achievement in interscholastic administration.

Scott is survived by his wife, Gerre; sons, Kelly (Roshani) Scott and Kyle (Roxana) Scott; daughter Carolyn Scott (Jim) Peterson; and six grandchildren.

Services will be held July 16 at the Thurston Memorial Chapel at Punahou School. A specific time in the afternoon will be announced later.