Semi-Farewell To One Of The Great Ones

JOHN PETERSON

Retiring coach of Tyler Junior College

John Peterson in action!

With the announcement that John Peterson is stepping down as head tennis coach at Tyler Junior College there was sadness at the news of the announcement but also gladness in knowing that he will still be working with the university. I have been privileged to work closely with John for the past 12 years at junior college nationals and have found him to be one of those rare coaches who exhibit grace, honor, integrity, and wisdom in all that they do. I have been blessed to be his friend--and now I need to enlist him as a tennis official! He would make a good one.

Here is today's announcement:

Coach John Peterson, whose teams have won a combined 25 national championships in his 24 years, has announced that he intends to step down as head tennis coach at Tyler Junior College, effective August 31, 2011. Dash Connell, a former player for Peterson at TJC and current Assistant Coach, has been named as the interim Head Coach.

“John Peterson is a legend in the tennis community and has played a tremendous role in the Tyler Junior College Athletic Department as an Athletic Director and tennis coach,” said Athletic Director Dr. Tim Drain. “He and his wife Dorothy have played in important role in my family’s life that I will never forget, and I will miss seeing him on a daily basis. However, Coach Peterson has agreed to a part-time role in the Athletic Department to help with this transition period, and I do look forward to working with him in that capacity.”

“I am thankful to Billy Jack Doggett and Ray Van Cleef because they were so persistent in getting me to TJC,” said Coach Peterson. “I knew during my interview that it could be special place. I honestly intended to stay a year or two, and here I am nearly 25 years later.”

“I worked under three Presidents and enjoyed them all. I want to thank all the many players that made it possible for us to prosper here. I think the school has done well to award Dash the position. I wish him well and will help him and TJC in any way I can.”

He is a member of the NJCAA Men's Tennis Hall of Fame, the NJCAA Women's Tennis Hall of Fame, and is a 2007 inductee of the Texas Tennis Coaches Hall of Fame. In December of 2000, the Intercollegiate Tennis Association named Coach Peterson the Junior College National Coach of the Decade. He was the only coach named coach of the decade in both the men's and women's division.

Coach John Peterson began his tenure in Tyler in 1987, and his teams have experienced great success throughout the years. His men's tennis teams have won twelve national championships, and his women's tennis teams have thirteen national championships, including winning the title the last two years. In his 24 years at TJC, Coach Peterson's overall men's tennis record is 394-101 and his women's teams are 434-88.

Coach Peterson is married to the former Dorothy Driver and has two children and four grandchildren.

John-Paul “Dash” Connell has been an Assistant for Coach Peterson since January 2009. He played at TJC under Peterson from 2001-2003. He then played at Texas A&M from 2003-2005.

After Texas A&M, he was a tennis pro at Willow Fork Country Club from 2006-2009.

In 2003, he was a First-Team NJCAA All-American and won the coveted ITA/Arthur Ashe Award for Leadership and Sportsmanship for Junior College Players. In 2002, he was named a Second-Team NJCAA All-American and won the Donnelly Award from the World Team Tennis Organization. In 2001, he was the Art Foust Sportsmanship Award at the Texas Boys' Super 18 Championships and was the UIL 5A Doubles State Champion.

Dash is married to Shae Connell and they have two sons, Mason (2) and Emerson (2 weeks old).