Behind the Whistle: Ian Rapanick Named to East West All-Stars Coaching Staff

Written by Christian Bateman

The 2026 East-West All-Star Football Game, scheduled for December 19th in Greensboro, will bring together some of the top senior football talent and coaching minds from across North Carolina.

The coaching staffs have officially been announced, and Perquimans High School head football coach Ian Rapanick has earned a spot on the East coaching staff as an assistant.

According to the NC East-West All-Star Games website, Rapanick will represent Perquimans County as he prepares to coach in his first East-West All-Star Football Game.

Rapanick expressed his gratitude and excitement about the opportunity, while also recognizing the coaches who have helped shape his career.

“It was a pretty incredible moment to get the phone call and be offered. I’ve been extremely blessed to have a lot of coaches pour into me and help me along the way. I never got into coaching for that kind of recognition, but I’m extremely thankful and humbled by the opportunity. Being able to represent Perquimans County is special. I’m excited to bring whatever I can to the East staff.

“I got my start at ODU as an O-line GA but have been coaching quarterbacks since I got to Perquimans, so I’m excited to be coaching O-line again and getting back to my roots. I’ve enjoyed getting to know all the East coaches, and I’m really looking forward to December.”

The East-West All-Star Game represents an opportunity for coaches and athletes from across North Carolina to showcase their talents on one of the state's biggest high school football stages.

For Rapanick and the Perquimans Pirates, this year's selection carries additional significance. Rapanick told Christian Bateman that the 2026 game marks the first time in school history that Perquimans has had two players selected to participate in the East-West All-Star Game.

The two Pirates earning that distinction are defensive end Steven Elliott, who stands 6-foot-2 and weighs 190 pounds, and offensive lineman Sam Lane, a 6-foot-3, 285-pound presence in the trenches.

Rapanick brings collegiate experience to the East coaching staff. He previously served as a student manager with the Old Dominion Monarchs before beginning his coaching career and later worked as a graduate assistant on the offensive line at ODU.

That experience makes his return to coaching the offensive line a meaningful opportunity as he prepares for the East-West All-Star Game.

Now in his sixth season as head coach of the Perquimans football program, Rapanick has continued to build the Pirates through his leadership and commitment to the program.

One of the program's notable recent accomplishments came during the 2023 season, when Rapanick guided Perquimans to an 8-3 record and a second-round appearance in the NCHSAA playoffs.

With two Pirates selected to represent their school and their head coach joining the East coaching staff, December 19 will be a special occasion for Perquimans County football.

For Rapanick, the opportunity is about more than coaching in an all-star game. It is a chance to represent his community, reconnect with his coaching roots and contribute to an event that celebrates outstanding football talent from across North Carolina.