Shaker Heights High School boys and girls tennis coach Al Slawson celebrated his 1,000th career win as a Shaker coach on April 16 at home versus Westlake. We caught up with Coach Slawson for a look back (and forward) on his career.
How long have you been a tennis coach?
I coached my first team in 1968 at Valley Forge High School in Parma. I was there for three years, then I left teaching and coaching to become a club pro. But being a club tennis pro wasn’t a good fit for me, so I started looking at teaching jobs again. I was hired as a teacher in Shaker in 1978 and I started coaching boys’ tennis in 1980. Then in 1982, I started teaching math at the Byron Junior High School. When Shaker became a four-year high school, I went to teach math there because I always thought it would be better in the building as a coach. I taught until 2005, and coached tennis until 2007. You know, my job at Shaker was really an example of perfection. It was such a good job for me because of my own beliefs with diversity-- the tennis was secondary, but then that became very important to me. My time here was mutually beneficial: Shaker has been good for me and I’ve been good for Shaker.
What brought you back to Shaker after you retired in 2007?
I realized I was very bad at retirement, so I came back in 2014 to coach boys and girls. I remember when Don called me and said that he was looking for a tennis coach. He asked if I could help find a coach or think of anyone who would be good. I told him that the only person I could think of...was me!
What were some of your more memorable moments as the tennis coach here in Shaker?
Certainly in May 2000 when we won the state team championship against Dublin Coffman. Also, renovating the tennis courts in 2015--that was something that was so important to our players and their parents. The condition of the courts was unacceptable and now, thanks to the District, they are the most beautiful courts in Northeast Ohio.
What has the game of tennis taught you in your own life?
It teaches so many things. If you’re playing singles, you’re on your own. The game teaches you to take responsibility---when the kids are playing, they call their own lines and they keep score. And they learn pretty quickly that that if you’re not honest, it’ll come back to haunt you. You learn how to be assertive without being aggressive and to stand up for yourself. You also realize that you’re not just playing for yourself, you’re playing for your team.
Do you have another 1,000 wins in you?
Well, I had my 500th win in 1996 and I just had my 1,000th and I’m 75. If I hit 2,000, then that’ll be a story for so many reasons! But truthfully, what’s important to me isn’t the number of wins, although I am surprised by it. After all, those are just the wins, nevermind the 350-plus losses! To me the most important part is the relationships I’ve had with my athletes. Some of the first people I coached are now around 70 and on Medicare. And with my younger players, I have connections through Facebook---I’m fortunate that many of them have written me over the years to say that being on the tennis team was the best thing they did in high school and that they learned more about life through participation on the tennis team than they did in class.
What is it about coaching high school students that you’re drawn to?
Some people find the high school kids annoying, but I find them highly entertaining. You never know what they’re going to say or do. Plus, their view of the world is different. I still love it after all these years. Truly, I couldn’t have had a better job than to be a teacher and a coach.