MCC tennis coach: No experience necessary

Matt Wilhalme

Taking over both the men’s and women’s tennis teams, 22-year-old coach Adam Cohen has plenty of responsibility.”Being a young coach last year I didn’t know how the players were going to respond to me, but I have not had one problem,” Cohen said.

Originally brought in as an assistant coach, Cohen has now taken over the women’s team as well this year following the sudden retirement of coach Penny Powel.

“It was really sad, she didn’t tell us until the middle-end of the season, nobody knew,” Randi Villarreal, a returning women’s player from last year, said about Powel’s departure.

She looks forward to working with Cohen more and that she likes the way the team is practicing now, harder and more.

Cohen recently became the men’s coach last year after Rebecca Opoien retired after the 2007 season.

Without hesitation Cohen has stepped in and began working with his new teams. He feels that his youth allows him and his players to connect on a more personal level, yet still maintain a high level of respect.

In his first season of coaching the men’s tennis team, Cohen was able to bring his team within a single match of competing for the national championship, Cohen said.

The men’s team returns seven of eight players from last season and they are looking to get back at the team that kept them a whisper away from nationals, Scottsdale Community College.

Teammates and brothers, Dan and Matt Schwartz, say that they relate with Cohen well, and he keeps them focused and on task.

“We’re the captains so whatever he feels we need to do, we get it done. Whether the plan is practicing with the girls or whatever,” Dan Schwartz said.

They explained that using their energy to get the team going can often involve shouting or just setting the example for the rest of the team to follow.

Traditionally, in what could be considered the tennis team’s biggest rival, the Scottsdale Artichokes should prove to be a good contest, Cohen said.

The team will also face Johnson Community College this season, who finished fifth overall in the nation last year, which will serve as a measuring stick of accomplishment for the team.

“Last year we were a young team so we were at a big disadvantage. This year we have all the returning players plus a great group of freshman for both the men and women,” Cohen said.

Although the women’s team is made up almost entirely of freshman, they have made a personal goal to qualify for nationals and finish among the top ten in the country.

Alexandria Blackburn, a freshman, said that she thinks that the women’s team is going to make it to nationals this year because of the level of talent that exists on the team.

She admits that her tennis game still needs work but with Cohen’s help she hopes to be prepared for the competition.

  • Mesa Legend Staff

    These are archived stories from Mesa Legend editions before Fall 2018. See article for corresponding author.

Welcome to the Mesa Legend! Subscribe to know more about what goes on at Mesa Community College!

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *