Spring Break
Tennis coach has teaching in his blood
Nick Wells
Issue date: 4/14/08 Section: Sports
"I lost a lot of kids at Rockhurst to UMKC, because kids want to play [Division I]," Hale said. "UMKC was the only step up I could take without moving my whole family."
Hale's coaching roots are buried deep. The morals and ethics he instills in his players stem from life lessons learned from his mentor, his high school coach, who died of brain cancer.
"She basically said find something you love to do, and find a way to get paid for it, and that has been my motto ever since," Hale said. "She taught me to love the game, respect the game, and how to take care of others.
"I do not consider myself just a coach, I am also a counselor, a father, and a friend, and that is why I coach. It is all about the relationships, the road trips, and the memories."
The Northwest Missouri State graduate earned his degree in psychology and sociology, which go hand-in-hand with handling different players' personalities.
"At this level, everybody has the game, the question is, do they have it up here, and in here," Hale said as he pointed to his head and to his heart. "I do not coach any two players the same, because what motivates you may not motivate me, and what inspires you, may not inspire me."
When asked of the upside of Kangaroo tennis, Hale said "with every match we play, I get more and more excited. In the next three or four years, you are going to see a real big change."
Hale praised his assistant coach.
"The addition of assistant coach Dante Cipulli to my staff was terrific. He is one of the best players I have ever coached. His talent as a player was extraordinary and the way he interacts with the student-athletes is even better," Hale said.
Hale is also excited about where the program is heading.
"With Tim Hall in here as A.D., and a new Chancellor in Guy Bailey, people need to watch out for UMKC athletics. I tell the recruits, it is like the ground floor of Microsoft, you can get in now, or you can regret it 10 years from now if you don't," Hale said.
On the girls' side, the future looks bright with two blue chip recruits coming to UMKC this fall. Wichita, Kan. natives' Jessica Ball, a state champion and two-time doubles state champion, and Jillian Yakominich who was a three-time state place winner.
"There is no reason UMKC cannot out recruit teams around here," Hale said. "I want UMKC to compete at the national level, not just in conference, because our standard is not the conference teams, it is the Wichita State's and the Drake's, those kinds of schools are going to be our benchmarks."
nwells@unews.com
Hale's coaching roots are buried deep. The morals and ethics he instills in his players stem from life lessons learned from his mentor, his high school coach, who died of brain cancer.
"She basically said find something you love to do, and find a way to get paid for it, and that has been my motto ever since," Hale said. "She taught me to love the game, respect the game, and how to take care of others.
"I do not consider myself just a coach, I am also a counselor, a father, and a friend, and that is why I coach. It is all about the relationships, the road trips, and the memories."
The Northwest Missouri State graduate earned his degree in psychology and sociology, which go hand-in-hand with handling different players' personalities.
"At this level, everybody has the game, the question is, do they have it up here, and in here," Hale said as he pointed to his head and to his heart. "I do not coach any two players the same, because what motivates you may not motivate me, and what inspires you, may not inspire me."
When asked of the upside of Kangaroo tennis, Hale said "with every match we play, I get more and more excited. In the next three or four years, you are going to see a real big change."
Hale praised his assistant coach.
"The addition of assistant coach Dante Cipulli to my staff was terrific. He is one of the best players I have ever coached. His talent as a player was extraordinary and the way he interacts with the student-athletes is even better," Hale said.
Hale is also excited about where the program is heading.
"With Tim Hall in here as A.D., and a new Chancellor in Guy Bailey, people need to watch out for UMKC athletics. I tell the recruits, it is like the ground floor of Microsoft, you can get in now, or you can regret it 10 years from now if you don't," Hale said.
On the girls' side, the future looks bright with two blue chip recruits coming to UMKC this fall. Wichita, Kan. natives' Jessica Ball, a state champion and two-time doubles state champion, and Jillian Yakominich who was a three-time state place winner.
"There is no reason UMKC cannot out recruit teams around here," Hale said. "I want UMKC to compete at the national level, not just in conference, because our standard is not the conference teams, it is the Wichita State's and the Drake's, those kinds of schools are going to be our benchmarks."
nwells@unews.com
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