Ed Peeler has enjoyed a lengthy career has a highly successful coach and athletic director, primarily at Crest High School in Cleveland County. A graduate of Shelby High and Appalachian State University, Peeler posted a brilliant 562-362 mark as a head men’s basketball coach, including two years at Mooresboro, six at Crest at Boiling Springs and then 30 at Crest. He also coached women’s basketball, baseball, cross-country, track and golf during his career. Peeler is best known for his basketball efforts, guiding his teams to the playoffs 24 times. His teams won the Western North Carolina High School Activities Association crown in both 1973 and ’74 and were runners-up in ’71, and he also won an NCHSAA state baseball title in 1965 at Mooresboro. A member of the Cleveland County Hall of Fame, he served as AD at Crest for 30 years and also coached in several basketball all-star games, including the North Carolina Coaches Association contests.