There has been a lot transpire since the last time I wrote. The team went from being in the regional tournament to then being out of the tournament. Our last match of the season was a true instant classic where we came up just short. It was a 5-4 loss with the last three matches being decided in the third set with all of them being 7-5 set scores. Heartbreaking for sure but all the guys involved battled hard and left it all on the court. Their season seems to be over but memories of what they have accomplished will last longer than the sting of that one match. Tonight is not about that though. It is about another former player who chased his dream and is currently living it to the fullest.
I am not of Italian lineage nor do I really have a strong ancestry towards any region. My mom is from Illinois and my dad from North Carolina. That’s all I know. So, when Tony D’Angelo, from New Jersey, came to visit before his freshman season it was apparent that he had strong Italian background. His tennis during his tryout wasn’t spectacular but there was this intriguing part of his game that I liked. It wasn’t pretty but it was loopy, grinding, and gritty. In the back of my mind I was thinking that he might turn into a great number six player. His ball looped deep into the court and it appeared that he could do it over and over and was content to just stay ten feet behind the baseline and send the ball back. Once he arrived on campus as a freshman he worked hard to make the dream of playing in the top six a top priority. The team was good but he gave it all he had, and just came up short in each attempt. His tennis game was as unique as his style.
Tony had no problem not looking professional and was comfortable in his own skin. His lack of style, in my opinion, led to new travel attire rules. He was very comfortable in ratty gym shorts and an equally ratty tie-dyed t-shirt. Sometimes the hair was combed and other times it was why bother. He appeared to be aloof in his approach to almost everything but there was a certain intensity that went along with his outward appearing carefree style. Tony and I would hit on occasion and there was a time that I was giving him everything I had. I don’t remember all the details except for this one outburst after a great point for me. At the conclusion of the point he yelled out, “He’s 39 years old.” I was not 39 at the time but it was comical to say the least. What was even funnier was that after the outburst he started doing pushups as punishment for his perceived poor play. Although he was not making an impact in the starting roster he was always around learning about the game, asking questions about why I did certain things, and putting his opinion out there for me to ponder. At the beginning of his junior year all of these questions came to a head when he approached me regarding the possibility of him removing himself from the roster and just being my assistant coach for the next two years. He thought he wanted to get into coaching and this would be a fantastic opportunity to learn.
Over the next two years Tony became a daily fixture on the courts and a great resource for discussing ideas about the team. He also began to travel more frequently with the team which brings me back to the strong Italian heritage. We were playing in Orlando and there was an Olive Garden near the courts. It sounded great because I really enjoy their soup, salad, and bread sticks. This was met with strong disdain from Tony. No Italian would eat at a fake Italian restaurant. As the argument intensified I tried to tell him that the Outback is not really Australian and the Taco Bell isn’t really Mexican food but both are enjoyed by many. This fell on deaf ears and for the next two years we did not eat at Olive Garden. I have since eaten there and it still is good. I think about Tony every time I walk in the front doors.
As graduation neared it became clear that post graduate work would be in the cards and that coaching wouldn’t be far behind. Tony went to UCF to obtain his MBA with a concentration in Psychology and while he was there served one year as the volunteer assistant on the women’s team. It was not a wonderful experience and could have put a bad taste in his mouth but he made the best of the situation and did other things to expand his knowledge base. Once he graduated he took a job with IMG Academy and that lasted for a while until an employment freeze once again put a kink in his plans. It was during this time that he redoubled his efforts to get into coaching and started looking for opportunities around the country. It is funny, when we are putting in the effort it seems like it may never happen, but when we have made enough contacts we seem to get lucky at just the right time. A job came open, not a perfect opportunity but an opportunity nonetheless, so Tony applied. As luck may have it I happened to know the coach personally so when the reference call came I had some exceptional knowledge on both the applicant and the coach. Tony got the job and took the chance. It is awesome to see that he is gaining some substantial experience and I will not be shocked when he is running his own team. I am sure the team will have a tie-dyed shirt for practice but that would be normal for the guy that did it his way every day.
Saturday, April 22, 2017
Monday, April 10, 2017
Austin Comings--A Former Player at FSC--Shredding the Gnar!
Being hungry is a trait that athletes need to help them get what they want. The funny thing is some players eat better than others and when they get a taste of a good meal they become satisfied. Satisfaction is a slippery slope. We want our athletes to be satisfied but as soon as they realize what they have achieved they see what they can achieve if they become hungry again. Sometimes the lack of progress comes from comfort, an idea that more work will not produce a greater product, or maybe just maybe the want is no longer there.
Tonight’s profile is about Austin Comings. If you have a picture of a college dude in your head, it is probably his portrait. Style, means, and a lifestyle that did not really warrant callouses was how most people saw Austin. He was more than that but was a dude. When I first met Austin, he had come to watch a match we were playing against Rollins. I believe we were getting destroyed and I was sure that Austin would end up going to our rival. It appeared that it fit his personality and life a little better. Much to my surprise he was at our courts when school began in the fall. He came in as a walk on and really didn’t have too much success as a freshman. Fighting for a starting role really wasn’t what Austin was about. He had reached a decent level in juniors, was talented, and didn’t have to put out too much effort to just get by. This made succeeding past where he was difficult, but hey he was on the team and could spin the lack of play however he wanted.
Traveling to Orlando for matches or tournaments was a lot more fun when Austin was on the team. This was where he resided with his mom and sister so when we went that direction all the players gained a mom. We had a few meals at his house and let me tell you she could cook. While we were at the house it was a time that I could see the team in an environment that led them to put down their guards and just be guys and not athletes looking for the next victory. Though Austin wasn’t in the starting line up the guys liked him because of his chill attitude. If there was a music festival nearby, Miami was nearby in his mind, he would get some of the guys to go. He had his own phrases and just breezed through.
As Austin made his way through his college career it became apparent that it was going to be tough for him to crack the top six. Saying this may seem that it was from a lack of talent but that was far from the truth. He had a great game for college. He had a big serve, a huge forehand, and court smarts. He just didn’t have the heart to hurt himself physically or mentally to make the next step in his playing career. I cannot be mad at him but to say I was not disappointed would be an understatement. It is always sad to see a player with talent not want to share it with the rest of us. I cannot be mad because I never had the opportunity to dig deeply into his psyche or to hear his innermost thoughts. Our relationship was a shallow one and he only allowed me to see what he thought I wanted to see. His game was big, his desire to achieve that game was small, but his heart towards his teammates was always sincere.
Not only did his family treat the team as their own kids when it was possible but the team also had the opportunity to have a few weekends at the beach condo his family owned. The condo was steps away from the ocean and the guys, telling me the G-rated version, always seemed refreshed and excited when they returned. During the end of his junior year Austin came to let me know that he would not be on the team next year. He was doing an internship in LA and he wanted to leave his options open and tennis was just going to be too much. As I have stated already, his talent was good but his desire was more about fun. When he finally quit the team he and I would occasionally run into one another when he would come down to the courts to hit tennis balls. This was when I became most frustrated with him. He was playing so good, so free, and so carefree but it was on his terms. He was good at his own world but did not like restrictions that others put on him.
I haven’t spoken to Austin since he left FSC and don’t know if I ever will. We do not travel in the same circles nor do I even know what he is doing now. He was a great kid who I hope has found the freedom he craved.
Tonight’s profile is about Austin Comings. If you have a picture of a college dude in your head, it is probably his portrait. Style, means, and a lifestyle that did not really warrant callouses was how most people saw Austin. He was more than that but was a dude. When I first met Austin, he had come to watch a match we were playing against Rollins. I believe we were getting destroyed and I was sure that Austin would end up going to our rival. It appeared that it fit his personality and life a little better. Much to my surprise he was at our courts when school began in the fall. He came in as a walk on and really didn’t have too much success as a freshman. Fighting for a starting role really wasn’t what Austin was about. He had reached a decent level in juniors, was talented, and didn’t have to put out too much effort to just get by. This made succeeding past where he was difficult, but hey he was on the team and could spin the lack of play however he wanted.
Traveling to Orlando for matches or tournaments was a lot more fun when Austin was on the team. This was where he resided with his mom and sister so when we went that direction all the players gained a mom. We had a few meals at his house and let me tell you she could cook. While we were at the house it was a time that I could see the team in an environment that led them to put down their guards and just be guys and not athletes looking for the next victory. Though Austin wasn’t in the starting line up the guys liked him because of his chill attitude. If there was a music festival nearby, Miami was nearby in his mind, he would get some of the guys to go. He had his own phrases and just breezed through.
As Austin made his way through his college career it became apparent that it was going to be tough for him to crack the top six. Saying this may seem that it was from a lack of talent but that was far from the truth. He had a great game for college. He had a big serve, a huge forehand, and court smarts. He just didn’t have the heart to hurt himself physically or mentally to make the next step in his playing career. I cannot be mad at him but to say I was not disappointed would be an understatement. It is always sad to see a player with talent not want to share it with the rest of us. I cannot be mad because I never had the opportunity to dig deeply into his psyche or to hear his innermost thoughts. Our relationship was a shallow one and he only allowed me to see what he thought I wanted to see. His game was big, his desire to achieve that game was small, but his heart towards his teammates was always sincere.
Not only did his family treat the team as their own kids when it was possible but the team also had the opportunity to have a few weekends at the beach condo his family owned. The condo was steps away from the ocean and the guys, telling me the G-rated version, always seemed refreshed and excited when they returned. During the end of his junior year Austin came to let me know that he would not be on the team next year. He was doing an internship in LA and he wanted to leave his options open and tennis was just going to be too much. As I have stated already, his talent was good but his desire was more about fun. When he finally quit the team he and I would occasionally run into one another when he would come down to the courts to hit tennis balls. This was when I became most frustrated with him. He was playing so good, so free, and so carefree but it was on his terms. He was good at his own world but did not like restrictions that others put on him.
I haven’t spoken to Austin since he left FSC and don’t know if I ever will. We do not travel in the same circles nor do I even know what he is doing now. He was a great kid who I hope has found the freedom he craved.
Saturday, April 8, 2017
Trace Collins--A Current Player at FSC--Hitting the Wall and Loving Every Minute
Days like today are what make coaching so enjoyable and heart wrenching all at the same time. Today was senior day as four of the guys played their last match at our home facility. They will all be written about later. We battled hard against another top ten team but came out on the losing end. Joy and grief within a four-hour time span. To ease the sadness of moving on without four great guys and losing another heartbreaking match I will write about a current player making his way through college and figuring out who he is.
Trace Collins is the true meaning of a walk on. He came to FSC after visiting and being told he would have an opportunity to be on the team. He came with an intensity and desire that was worthy of the top players. He trains at an academy in Colorado where he has honed his game under the tutelage of the coaches he has surrounded himself with while training there. His first year was fraught with learning curves. He spent time suspended for grades, as the standards to remain and active member are higher on the team than NCAA standards. He also got beat down anytime he stepped on the court. For the average person, this would-be reason enough to just quit, transfer, or many other alternatives that he didn’t choose. He got his grades back in order and starting in the spring of his freshman year became an active member of the men’s team. The difference between Trace and the rest of the team is that he needed no one to practice with in order to have a great day holding his racket. He would go out and work on his serve, spend hours hitting on the old courts wall, or put himself through countless footwork drills. He did this because he loves the game of tennis and what it means to his life. Playing time on the varsity team did not happen during his freshman year but he continued to train like the next day would be his opportunity to shine.
During the summer, Trace decided to change his major, another big step in his growth, and came back in the fall with the same desire he had the previous season. He continued his private practice and began battling for his spot on the team. Although the varsity team was not yet in reach, Trace became an integral part of the JV team which we are fortunate to have at FSC. Because of the JV team Trace has some opportunities to compete which is what all competitive athletes need. His desire to play tennis is a weird thing to me. I haven’t figured out if he wants to play to get better or just because he loves the sport. I sometimes think he loves the idea of being an athlete with a plan. This spring Trace has gotten to play a few competitive events and continues to grind towards his goals. These goals are personal and I have no knowledge of what they may be as he keeps them close to his vest. All his trainings go into his notebook that he journals in-depth after each session.
One of Trace’s biggest opponents has recently been destroyed. If you ever wondered where he might be you could always walk out back of the gym and potentially see him hitting on the big green wall which used to house four of the old varsity courts. Progress has come and the old courts have been demolished. This wall gave Trace many hours of relentless practice and probably some mind clearing therapy. I’ve pondered for a couple of weeks now where Trace will go for his one on one therapy now that his most consistent partner has been taken away. This will be another growth lesson that he must go through while making his way through FSC. I am not sure where Trace will end up on the team or where he will go as he gets closer to graduation but I do know that in his mind he has a plan for his tennis and his life.
My job is awesome because each of the players that passes through the gates is an enigma wrapped in a riddle that I get to try and figure out. Sometimes with Trace I feel like I am missing some of the pieces and that is why I like the kid.
Trace Collins is the true meaning of a walk on. He came to FSC after visiting and being told he would have an opportunity to be on the team. He came with an intensity and desire that was worthy of the top players. He trains at an academy in Colorado where he has honed his game under the tutelage of the coaches he has surrounded himself with while training there. His first year was fraught with learning curves. He spent time suspended for grades, as the standards to remain and active member are higher on the team than NCAA standards. He also got beat down anytime he stepped on the court. For the average person, this would-be reason enough to just quit, transfer, or many other alternatives that he didn’t choose. He got his grades back in order and starting in the spring of his freshman year became an active member of the men’s team. The difference between Trace and the rest of the team is that he needed no one to practice with in order to have a great day holding his racket. He would go out and work on his serve, spend hours hitting on the old courts wall, or put himself through countless footwork drills. He did this because he loves the game of tennis and what it means to his life. Playing time on the varsity team did not happen during his freshman year but he continued to train like the next day would be his opportunity to shine.
During the summer, Trace decided to change his major, another big step in his growth, and came back in the fall with the same desire he had the previous season. He continued his private practice and began battling for his spot on the team. Although the varsity team was not yet in reach, Trace became an integral part of the JV team which we are fortunate to have at FSC. Because of the JV team Trace has some opportunities to compete which is what all competitive athletes need. His desire to play tennis is a weird thing to me. I haven’t figured out if he wants to play to get better or just because he loves the sport. I sometimes think he loves the idea of being an athlete with a plan. This spring Trace has gotten to play a few competitive events and continues to grind towards his goals. These goals are personal and I have no knowledge of what they may be as he keeps them close to his vest. All his trainings go into his notebook that he journals in-depth after each session.
One of Trace’s biggest opponents has recently been destroyed. If you ever wondered where he might be you could always walk out back of the gym and potentially see him hitting on the big green wall which used to house four of the old varsity courts. Progress has come and the old courts have been demolished. This wall gave Trace many hours of relentless practice and probably some mind clearing therapy. I’ve pondered for a couple of weeks now where Trace will go for his one on one therapy now that his most consistent partner has been taken away. This will be another growth lesson that he must go through while making his way through FSC. I am not sure where Trace will end up on the team or where he will go as he gets closer to graduation but I do know that in his mind he has a plan for his tennis and his life.
My job is awesome because each of the players that passes through the gates is an enigma wrapped in a riddle that I get to try and figure out. Sometimes with Trace I feel like I am missing some of the pieces and that is why I like the kid.
Thursday, April 6, 2017
Javier Castro--Former Player at FSC--In a Roundabout Way I Got My Monies Worth
Oops, it has been a minute (I think that’s what the kids say these day) since I last wrote in my blog. I wish I had a good excuse, but I don’t. I took some time to do other things. We’ve played some great matches, had some great times as a team, and just been being a dad and a coach. Well, I’m back so here we go.
Tonight, I will write about one of my biggest on court failures. Be careful how you take that at first blush. He was a massive failure as a player but became one of the best student assistants I could have asked for during his three years at FSC. Javier Castro contacted me while he was a player for Grambling. He was recruited to play there and went blindly. Culturally it was a tough environment for Javier as he was from Ecuador and wasn’t prepared for his first year of college. He was playing one for Grambling and I was pumped to have him coming to our program. For all you compliance people, I got the release and did everything properly. Javier showed up and man was I surprised. He was slightly larger than I had anticipated but he assured me he would be ready to go for the season. Javier was such a personable kid that I couldn’t help like him. He was helpful, wanted to be a part of the program, and just wanted to hang out with me.
As we got going it was apparent that Javier didn’t have the energy to play for hours on end. He had skills but was only good for about four games. This wasn’t going to work for me or for the team. The other players began to grumble about his lack of performance but there was something that I liked about the kid. Time continued and he fell completely out of the lineup but was with me every day. During his first year, he played a few matches in singles and doubles with decent results but not at the level or position he was intended to be playing. During his junior year, he only played one singles match and a handful of doubles. He only lost once but still really wasn’t what I anticipated. His senior year only saw two doubles matches with a 50/50 record. If this was about his prowess on the tennis court I would have rated him a complete failure. I mean, I failed in my recruiting because I was recruiting a player - but I gained much more in the long run.
It was clear early on that Javier wasn’t going to make an impact on the court as a player because he showed no inclination to improve his condition or to work towards what I knew he could achieve. You see, he was damn good but just didn’t give a damn about getting back in shape. This was unacceptable but I recruited him and therefore I owned him. I don’t have an assistant and Javier seemed to have a penchant for knowing what needed to be done. He made sure rackets were strung, balls were ready for practice, and that I had everything I needed for matches. He aided with recruiting and being a buffer between me and the players who were actually on the court working. The players didn’t like that he was taking money and not producing but they liked the way things ran while he was around. Javier was an expensive player but a very reasonably priced assistant coach.
By the time Javier was a senior he was well into his groove as my pseudo assistant. He was my second set of eyes and helped with about everything he could during practice and matches. There are two funny stories to finish up this little piece on what made Javier so great. The first goes a little something like this. When a player comes to visit at the DII level we put them through a tryout. Well, I had this German kid coming in but really wasn’t that excited about him so instead of having one of the top guys work him out I told Javier to hit with him and let me know. Well, Javier played like the Javier at a different school and absolutely destroyed this kid. If my overweight assistant can beat you then I probably don’t have anything for you. The kid thanked me and told me he just wasn’t playing well. Javier and I decided that he wasn’t for us and passed. Guess what, that German kid went to Rollins and proceeded to kick our ass for two of the three years he played there. Yes, that was twice that Javier got me. This one wasn’t his fault. Years later the German player at Rollins and I would talk about that day and he was jet lagged, had just come off a slow red clay court, and was nervous. The next day at Rollins he played great and beat one of their top players. Oh well, you win some and lose some with recruits. The second story is funny. When we travel, we eat well and this trip was no different. We had qualified for regionals and were heading to Boca Raton. We were cruising down the turnpike and needed a nature break for the guys. We stopped at one of the service plazas along the way and I decided I needed a Cinnabon. My naivety allowed me to think that I could eat it while cruising down the highway. As I was attempting to fatten my midsection Javier decided that this was not a safe endeavor. He proceeded to take the bun away from me, take my knife and fork, cut it up and start feeding it to me. Yes, I was being fed my snack by my number one recruit who was my assistant coach. Why not right?
Javier graduated on time, went to Spain to continue studying, got married to his love and now resides back in Ecuador working in his father’s business. As tough as I was on him, as his teammates were on him, and in the situation he allowed himself to be in he made the best of it. He became an invaluable member of the team and made an indelible mark on me. We still talk occasionally and he asks every time whether or not I can hire him as my assistant. He would move in a second and I would hire him just as quickly. I’m sorry he failed as a player but grateful at how successful he was in his secondary role.
Tonight, I will write about one of my biggest on court failures. Be careful how you take that at first blush. He was a massive failure as a player but became one of the best student assistants I could have asked for during his three years at FSC. Javier Castro contacted me while he was a player for Grambling. He was recruited to play there and went blindly. Culturally it was a tough environment for Javier as he was from Ecuador and wasn’t prepared for his first year of college. He was playing one for Grambling and I was pumped to have him coming to our program. For all you compliance people, I got the release and did everything properly. Javier showed up and man was I surprised. He was slightly larger than I had anticipated but he assured me he would be ready to go for the season. Javier was such a personable kid that I couldn’t help like him. He was helpful, wanted to be a part of the program, and just wanted to hang out with me.
As we got going it was apparent that Javier didn’t have the energy to play for hours on end. He had skills but was only good for about four games. This wasn’t going to work for me or for the team. The other players began to grumble about his lack of performance but there was something that I liked about the kid. Time continued and he fell completely out of the lineup but was with me every day. During his first year, he played a few matches in singles and doubles with decent results but not at the level or position he was intended to be playing. During his junior year, he only played one singles match and a handful of doubles. He only lost once but still really wasn’t what I anticipated. His senior year only saw two doubles matches with a 50/50 record. If this was about his prowess on the tennis court I would have rated him a complete failure. I mean, I failed in my recruiting because I was recruiting a player - but I gained much more in the long run.
It was clear early on that Javier wasn’t going to make an impact on the court as a player because he showed no inclination to improve his condition or to work towards what I knew he could achieve. You see, he was damn good but just didn’t give a damn about getting back in shape. This was unacceptable but I recruited him and therefore I owned him. I don’t have an assistant and Javier seemed to have a penchant for knowing what needed to be done. He made sure rackets were strung, balls were ready for practice, and that I had everything I needed for matches. He aided with recruiting and being a buffer between me and the players who were actually on the court working. The players didn’t like that he was taking money and not producing but they liked the way things ran while he was around. Javier was an expensive player but a very reasonably priced assistant coach.
By the time Javier was a senior he was well into his groove as my pseudo assistant. He was my second set of eyes and helped with about everything he could during practice and matches. There are two funny stories to finish up this little piece on what made Javier so great. The first goes a little something like this. When a player comes to visit at the DII level we put them through a tryout. Well, I had this German kid coming in but really wasn’t that excited about him so instead of having one of the top guys work him out I told Javier to hit with him and let me know. Well, Javier played like the Javier at a different school and absolutely destroyed this kid. If my overweight assistant can beat you then I probably don’t have anything for you. The kid thanked me and told me he just wasn’t playing well. Javier and I decided that he wasn’t for us and passed. Guess what, that German kid went to Rollins and proceeded to kick our ass for two of the three years he played there. Yes, that was twice that Javier got me. This one wasn’t his fault. Years later the German player at Rollins and I would talk about that day and he was jet lagged, had just come off a slow red clay court, and was nervous. The next day at Rollins he played great and beat one of their top players. Oh well, you win some and lose some with recruits. The second story is funny. When we travel, we eat well and this trip was no different. We had qualified for regionals and were heading to Boca Raton. We were cruising down the turnpike and needed a nature break for the guys. We stopped at one of the service plazas along the way and I decided I needed a Cinnabon. My naivety allowed me to think that I could eat it while cruising down the highway. As I was attempting to fatten my midsection Javier decided that this was not a safe endeavor. He proceeded to take the bun away from me, take my knife and fork, cut it up and start feeding it to me. Yes, I was being fed my snack by my number one recruit who was my assistant coach. Why not right?
Javier graduated on time, went to Spain to continue studying, got married to his love and now resides back in Ecuador working in his father’s business. As tough as I was on him, as his teammates were on him, and in the situation he allowed himself to be in he made the best of it. He became an invaluable member of the team and made an indelible mark on me. We still talk occasionally and he asks every time whether or not I can hire him as my assistant. He would move in a second and I would hire him just as quickly. I’m sorry he failed as a player but grateful at how successful he was in his secondary role.
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