College Sports: Pensacola State Honors beloved coach Pete Pena in naming court in his honor
His voice cracking, heart-felt gratitude flowing, Pete Pena reflected on everything Pensacola State College has meant to him.
It’s been such a near-lifetime of cherishment.
“I love this place,” he said.
And now, the mutual appreciation will be reflected on the basketball court he coaches, after PSC christened on Thursday its new, shiny, varnished-wood, basketball court as the Ambersley & Pena Court at Hartsell Arena.
It honors Pena and his good friend, Joe Ambersley, a significant PSC donor and former University of West Florida athletic director and coach, who first met Pena 43 years ago and the two since forged an acclaimed legacy in Pensacola’s entire sports community.
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In three weeks, Pena will officially begin his 15th season as the Pirates’ men’s basketball coach, coaching at his alma mater. He began his coaching tenure at PSC as the women’s volleyball coach, following his prep coaching stint at Pensacola Catholic High.
“He’s not only a great coach, but an even better person and role model for his athletes,” said Ambersley, who along with his wife, Maggie, have donated $100,000 to PSC’s athletics program in addition to their support provided at UWF. “I am honored to have my signature on the new Pirate basketball court.
“This is one of my most cherished athletic accomplishments and I will remember this forever,” said Ambersley, during the unveiling ceremony Thursday at Hartsell Arena that was attended by their families, relatives, area media members and a large number of people connected to the basketball community in Pensacola.
“This is very humbling,” Pena said, fighting back emotions. “I love this school. I am a proud graduate of this school.”
PSC president Ed Meadows saluted both men and their families for their impact on students, supporters and people they have met during their impact in Pensacola.
“Our athletes are students first, and we are so glad to receive so much support from the Ambersley family. With coaches like Pete and supporters like Joe, we know our athletics program has a bright future,” said Meadows, who has elevated PSC since being named president in June 2008 and is now chairman of the Florida College System Council of Presidents.
During Pena’s basketball coaching tenure, he’s compiled a 208-189 record in the rugged Panhandle Conference, including two state junior college tournament appearances and a conference title in 2014. More than 50 of his players have moved on to NCAA Division I programs.
“This has been a place that has been so special for so many people in this city,” Pena said. “This has been a springboard to a lot of successful lives. This place is really special. I can tell you that from the people I work with every day.
“The sport we coach is just our excuse for doing the job we do. We enjoy the work of coming here and helping, because that is what it is. We come here to help our kids grow up.”
Pena’s wife, Brenda, was the PSC softball coach for 18 years before retiring in 2015. A Woodham High and University of Florida graduate, Brenda Pena won more than 900 softball games in her overall coaching tenure.
The couple have been married 36 years and their daughter, Rebecca, who graduated from New York University, were part of Thursday’s event.
“My wife, my best friend for the last 36 years,” said Pete Pena, fighting back tears. “The words weren’t invented to tell you what you have meant to me and my life.
“The people I work with every day… and the coaches I have known for awhile, it means so much to all of us. Thank you for you love and your friendship.”
Pete Pena and Joe Ambersley were teammates on a men’s, fast-pitch softball team way back in their lives. Their team traveled to play one year in the Blue-Gray Classic in Montgomery, Alabama – a prestigious men’s amateur softball tournament with 64 teams.
“We played our first game on a Friday night against the number two seed and it doesn’t take a math major to figure we were the 63rd seed,” Pena said, laughing. “But don’t tell Joe that. He said, ‘Hey, we’re going to get these guys. They are thinking we’re just a soft (opponent).”
Sure enough, the Pensacola team won 2-1. Pena then added the next two games were run-rule routs and the Pensacola team was heading home.
“It was quiet at first, we were a little upset,” Pena said. “Then, all of a sudden, Joe says, ‘Hey fellas, what a great game Friday night was!’ All of a sudden, the ride home was a heckuva lot better,’’ said Pena, as the Thursday gathering erupted in laughter.
Pena then turned serious saying, “Joe has battled through cancer. I have seen him fight on and help people. This is a special guy because he has helped people his entire life. I am the one whose name pales in comparison to the two names on this court.”
Pena’s current PSC team played this weekend in The All-American Jamboree, a preseason tournament in Tavares, Florida, near Orlando, featuring 100 junior college and high school basketball teams across the nation.
The Pirates will then have scrimmage games against Mobile College and UWF before opening the season on Nov. 4 in the Chipola College Invitational Tournament in Marianna.
In his closing remarks, PSC athletic director and baseball coach Brian Lewallyn used a famous quote from Jackie Robinson to describe Pena and Ambersley.
“A life is not important except for the impact it has on another,” said Lewallyn, quoting the Robinson message. “And we are sitting here because of the impact that Joe Ambersley and Pete Pena have had on every one of us and will continue to have for generations to come at Pensacola State.”
And now, the court at Hartsell Arena will reflect it.
Bill Vilona is a retired Pensacola News Journal sports columnist and now senior writer for Pensacola Blue Wahoos. He can be reached at bvilona@bluewahoos.com.
This article originally appeared on Pensacola News Journal: Pensacola State renames court as Ambersley & Pena Court at Hartsell Arena.
