Coach Gavin Cree enters his 16th year as head coach of the Islander program in 2024-25. Coach Cree has an overall record of 225-120 since taking over for legendary coach Ed Pepple. Coach Cree’s teams have won more than 20 games three times (2011-2013), secured four KingCo regular season titles (2013, 2017, 2019, 2020) and four KingCo Tournament titles (2011, 2013, 2019, 2020). The Islanders advanced to the State Regionals four years in a row (2011-2014). In his 15-year span, Coach Cree has won KingCo Coach of the Year six times (2011, 2013, 2017, 2019, 2020, 2023). This summer, Coach Cree was nominated Washington State Basketball Coaches Association for the John Wooden Award, an award given annually to one coaching educator in every state. Prior to being named head coach, Coach Cree spent five years at various levels in the MI program, including two years alongside Coach Pepple as a Varsity assistant.

Gavin was a two-year Varsity letterman for the Islanders, winning a state championship in 1999 and serving as the team’s captain in 2000. In September 2005, he was inducted in to the MIHS Athletic Hall of Fame. After a successful high school career, Gavin went on to play for four years at Pomona College in Southern California. Following graduation from Pomona in 2004 with a degree in Psychology, Gavin moved back to the area and started as a Health and PE teacher at Mercer Island High School in 2012. Gavin and his wife Jessica celebrated their 11th wedding anniversary this year and are busy raising their son, Julius.