Coach Jeff Culpepper “Pep”

Coaching since:  2007

Started with FCA:  2008

Current & Prior Coaching Experience:

Coach Culpepper is a Washington native with a remarkable baseball career. Coach Culpepper played baseball at Woodinville High School where he received several All KingCo honors including leading the league with hits and a .448 batting average his senior year. After high school, he played for Gonzaga University on scholarship. Coach Culpepper was drafted by the Boston Red Sox in 2003 but opted to stay and complete his college degree.  In 2004 he was drafted by the Chicago Cubs and again decided to stay in school for his senior year, where he was voted one of the top 20 college seniors by Baseball America. Upon completion of his degree at Gonzaga in 2005, Coach Culpepper signed with the Chicago Cubs. He led the Cubs minor league system in Batting Average (.328) and On Base % (.420) in 2005. He played in two Major League games during spring training 2006 before a career-ending ankle injury 2007. Perhaps Coach Culpepper's most notable claim to fame is having the first ever hit at SAFECO field during a Connie Mack Summer League game in 1999.

Coach Culpepper is recognized as one of the top baseball instructors in the State and has a passion for increasing each player’s baseball IQ.  We are thrilled Coach Culpepper has made FCA his coaching home:

“I had the opportunity to coach for many clubs but I chose FCA because of the focus and balance on long-term player development, competing to win, encouraging academic excellence and importance of family commitments.  As a coach, I look for athletes who are willing to work harder than everyone else at being the best in everything they do.”   

Verse to live by:

1 Corinthians 9:24-27 - Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize.

Favorite quote:

"You can never let anyone intimidate you" (Vince Coleman, MLB player best known for his base running skills and records; I had the good fortune of playing for, and learning from him).

Coaching role model:

Ed Cheff (Legendary Lewis-Clark State Baseball Coach, Lewiston, Idaho)

Favorite part of coaching:

Leading the FCA Spring Training Camp in Arizona.  This was also one of my favorite times when playing major league baseball and it is a blessing to share a similar experience with younger, aspiring players.