Dec. 7, 2022 | West Des Moines Community Schools is excited to announce Valley High School (VHS) girls’ tennis coach Mike Conlon has earned the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) Coaches Association 2022-23 Girls’ Tennis Coach of the Year Award for the state of Iowa.
Each year, state high school athletic associations – including the Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union (IGHSAU) – nominate one coach from each of its sanctioned sports to receive the state-level honor. From there, the NFHS awards sectional- and national-level accolades. The NFHS National Coaches of the Year in their respective sports will be announced in early 2023.
In five seasons under Conlon, the VHS girls’ tennis team has seen marked improvement, with a 31-4 record over the past three seasons. The 2021 squad finished fourth at State; the 2022 team improved to second at State.
“Overall, I would say my experience coaching the Valley girl’s tennis team … has been rewarding and life-changing,” Conlon said. “From Day 1, I’ve tried to create an environment where we’re not just learning to play a lifelong sport, but we’re also fostering opportunities for our players to develop relationships that transcend the tennis court.”
“Through team retreats, team dinners, and other off-the-court events,” he said, “we’re learning how to be better teammates and how to better support and respect each other. We continue that bond by
Valley girls’ tennis coach Mike Conlon and his team pose with the state title trophy.
having an annual get-together with former players as they continue their journey through college and life.”
Conlon began playing tennis when he was 5 years old and would walk to the courts at Fort Dodge High School to play along with his siblings. “From about age 10 on, I spent the majority of my summer days rotating between the tennis courts and football and baseball fields all day long,” he said. Conlon was an Iowa High School Singles State Champion and while attending Iowa State University, Conlon played on the men’s tennis team and notched a 4th-place finish in singles and 2nd-place finish in doubles at the Big 8 Championships.
Conlon began coaching the VHS girls tennis team in 2017, and was instrumental in starting what’s grown into a thriving summer tennis camp program: “Our first year, we had 36 total players,” he said. “Fast-forward to 2022 and we had 101 players attend the camp, including 64 girls in first through eighth grades.” It’s now a year-round program designed to interest athletes in tennis at a young age and serve as a feeder system for the Tigers squad.
“To be named the National Federation of State High School Associations Iowa Girl’s Coach of the Year helps me realize that we’re doing things right in our program, ” Conlon said. “It causes me to reflect on so many things, like the support we receive from our Activities Office, led by Mr. [Brad] Rose. We’re not only provided with everything we need on the court, but Mr. Rose and his team have been a great resource for me, especially because I’m not in the schools as a teacher or administrator.
“To all the current and former players I’ve coached, the parents I’ve met, the coaches that I’ve worked with, and the Valley administration team: I want to thank them for supporting me. I’m blessed to be a part of your community, and I hope to continue coaching the Valley girl’s tennis team for many more years!”
