Veteran varsity coach Woods takes on new team

By Henry Erlandson ’16
THE ROUNDUP

Brophy’s first ever freshman tennis team has its players and coaches excited for a new tradition of Bronco sports.

This year will be the start of Brophy’s freshman tennis team after having only a JV and varsity team for the past few decades.

Coach Mr. Bill Woods, who coaches a variety of sports including tennis and basketball, and has also now taken over the position as assistant athletic director, initiated this plan.

Mr. Woods will take over as the school’s athletic director when Mr. John Chambers retires at the end of this year.

He began coaching tennis 20 years ago after former tennis coach, the Rev.  Michael Klein, retired, leaving the spot open for volunteers.

Mr. Woods left his position as a baseball coach and took the open spot as tennis coach.

He is now entering his 21st year as a tennis coach and ready as ever to prepare the young players for a future in tennis.

“My expectations are the same for every team I coach in the sense I expect them to go out and give their best everyday that they are with me,” he said.

The freshman team practices four days a week for two hours, and some even put in extra work to improve, practicing six days a week.

“Well, with varsity, the players are the ones to get teammates pumped, and the role of motivation lies in the tennis players, so this is what I hope will translate to the freshmen,” Mr. Woods said when asked about his team’s motivation.

Brophy Tennis will spend most of their matches competing against the Chandler school district, and will even travel to Perry High School in Gilbert. The team’s home court is Phoenix Tennis Center at 21st Avenue and Maryland.