Fred Priester

Head Varsity Coach

Girls Varsity Basketball

Coach Fred Priester has been the Head Coach at Oakton High School for the past 25 years.  His teams have won 17 District Championships, 7 Regional Championships and been to the State Final Four on 9 occasions. In 2012, his team completed a perfect 31-0 season capped by the AAA State Championship. In 2018 Coach Priester joined the Virginia High School League's exclusive 700 Club.  According to the VHSL record books, only two other coaches have achieved 700 or more wins.

Prior to Oakton, Fred Priester coached at McLean High School for 14 years‚ 10 as Head Coach and holds the record for most wins at MHS with 130. He was recently inducted into the McLean High School Hall of Fame. Over the years, he has received numerous Coach of the Year designations from the 1992 Tip-Off Club Coach of the Year honors to selections by coaches’ associations on the district, region and state levels and by the various media: both print and visual. Most recently, in 2009, he was District, Region, State and All- Met Coach of the Year. In 2010, he was once again recognized at District and Region Coach of the Year as well as being named one of eight coaches nationally as Sectional Coach of the Year by the National High School Federation Coaches’ Association. In 2011, he was District Coach of the Year and in 2012, he was District and State Coach of the Year and was selected as the overall High School Sports Coach of the Year by the Fairfax Times. He twice coached in the prestigious Capitol Classic in Washington, D.C. coaching the winning squads in 2008 & 2012. He has coached 6 times in the VHSCA State All-Star games and numerous times in the NVWBCA All -Star games. In 2013, he was selected as Head coach of the EAST squad for the McDonald’s All-American game in Chicago. In 2015 and 2016, he as recognized again was District and Regional Coach of the Year.

Over the last three decades Coach Priester has helped many of his players receive Division 1 scholarships and Division II, Division III and NAIA spots by providing excellent coaching, playing/exposure opportunities and guidance/assistance in the recruiting process. Coach Priester is extremely well known among college coaches and has an extensive network of contacts and resources as a coach and guidance counselor to provide assistance to players and parents. His teams and players have forged a strong reputation for their toughness and discipline as well as the ability to fit into and excel in college programs around the country.

A native of Indiana, his passion for basketball comes naturally. His approach to high school and AAU basketball involves an emphasis on player development‚ both in the area of skills and attitude. He demands and engenders mental and physical toughness and discipline while improving the players understanding of the game. “Learning how to play is as important as improving skills, and they must go hand in hand for the player and ultimately the team to progress. An emphasis on personal accountability and individual responsibility for team as well as individual goals and the development of personal discipline and a strong work ethic are the components of our approach to practice, games and the season.“