Coupeville Sports

Longtime Wolf tennis coach Ken Stange and his final state tourney qualifier, Helen Strelow. (Photos courtesy Stange)

The mission is complete … for now.

Ken Stange recently wrapped an 18-year run as Coupeville High School tennis coach, leading the Wolves through two seasons most years.

As he marinates in his “retirement” down at Bailey’s Corner Store, he’s sharing memories, deep thoughts, and (maybe) clues to where the bodies are buried.

A nine-part odyssey inside the mind of the man, the myth, the always-entertaining net guru:

After serving 18 years as the Coupeville High School tennis coach, I’ve hung up my clipboard, so to speak.

The decision was not an easy one to make.

After I stopped teaching, in 2015, I had a yearly conversation with myself about whether or not it would be my final year of coaching.

For the first few years, it was easy to stay on as coach.

I had players who I had taught and enjoyed, and I felt an obligation and a desire to keep working with them.

However, as the years progressed, and new kids would join the team, I felt my level of connection with them slipping away.

Gone was the experience of having had them in class and knowing more about who they were as individuals, which had previously enhanced my ability to tailor my approach for individual players.

Eventually, the entire team was made up of kids who never had me as a teacher.

At that point, making those connections became even more difficult.

Still, there were always a few kids who would rekindle my interest, and I’d be hooked.

In the spring of 2020, the year of COVID and a cancelled tennis season, I thought it would be my last go around, but there was one bright eyed ninth grader named Helen who showed up to play.

We only got to practice for a week or so before the season was cancelled.

That short time with her made me know that I wanted to be a part of whatever she was going to do in tennis.

As Helen and her Class of 2023 cohorts progressed, I waited for that next kid or group of kids to materialize, so I could continue putting off the decision to leave.

It never quite happened.

The kids were good and kind people, but I felt that I just wasn’t the right person for the job anymore.

Then the spring of 2023 came around, and still, no strong connections were made.

That meant that it was time … time to reflect on my years of coaching tennis in Coupeville … time to savor and enjoy all the “lasts” in my final season.

And what a final season it was!

The final squad.

Helen, the bright eyed ninth grader?

In her senior year, she was dominant and continued to grow her tennis game.

She went undefeated in league play, helping our team secure yet another league title.

She won the district singles tournament, leading our team to its first ever district tournament team title.

She went to the state tournament and even won a match.

The team won the academic state championship, yet another first for the CHS tennis program.

People dream of going out on top like this.

I know that I’m no Michael Jordan or Jim Brown, but knowing that my final season was one where so many team and individual goals were achieved makes me feel a bit like MJ, riding off into the sunset having just won my sixth ring.

Eighteen years is a long time.

When I stepped down as coach, I was the longest tenured head coach at the high school.

A lot of football, volleyball, basketball, and soccer coaches came and went during my time at the helm of the tennis program.

During that time, my players racked up some big numbers that made me look good … really good.

Yes, I’m going to toot my own horn, so to speak.

Why not? I’m proud of what I presided over and what my players and teams accomplished.