After 13 years leading the Tyrone boys and girls tennis teams, Head Coach Randy Irvin recently announced that he will step down before the start of the boys’ season.

Eagle Eye staff members and senior tennis players Cadence Ball and Nicole Ramsey sat down with Coach Irvin in the Eagle Eye studio for an interview last Friday. Click the link above to see the entire interview.

Irvin said that the decision to turn in his resignation was difficult because he loves coaching, but his recent promotion at the Kunzler/Clemens plant in Tyrone will require him to work until 4:30 p.m., and the early start time for most matches will make it impossible for him to continue as the head coach.

Irvin’s love for tennis began in seventh grade, when his older brother introduced him to the game. In ninth grade, he chose tennis over baseball, a decision he never regretted.

He played for the Tyrone Area High School team, where he was the number one singles player in his sophomore through senior years.

Irvin graduated from Tyrone Area High School in 1993 and played intermural tennis as a student at Penn State Altoona, where he won championships in both singles and doubles.

After a long stretch away from the sport, Irvin realized how much he missed it, and when he saw an opportunity to coach at his alma mater, he jumped at the chance.

“[At the time] I wasn’t doing anything with tennis, and I missed it a lot,” Irvin said. “So I thought this could be a good opportunity to play. You know, get out and be around the sport I love. So I started coaching, and I loved it, and just continued.”

Irvin credits his high school coach, Coach Curtis, who played tennis at Dartmouth University, as being his coaching role model. Irvin said he tried to adopt his focus on fun, improvement, and love for the game, rather than pressure to win.

“He was just a laid-back coach, and that’s exactly what I tried to be. Just have fun and enjoy playing. I have a deep passion for the game, and I try to pass it on to [my] players,” Irvin said.

Irvin also credited the current head coach at Saint Francis University, Eric Hovan, with helping him to learn the coaching side of the sport, especially how to handle issues like cheating and match management.

One of Irvin’s proudest coaching moments came in 2018, when the boys’ doubles team of Ethan Vipond and Paul Lemaire finished third at States, narrowly losing a three-hour match to the eventual state champions.

Irvin is also proud of the fact that several of his athletes have gone on to play tennis in college, particularly at Penn State Altoona, where his own daughter, Lydia, played for a year.

A unique aspect of Irvin’s coaching career is that he coached both girls and boys.

However, unlike cross country, track, and swimming, where the boys and girls practice and compete at the same time, boys and girls tennis teams play during different seasons. Tennis is a fall sport for the girls, while the boys play in the spring.

When asked about the difference between coaching boys and girls, Irvin admitted that the boys could be “mischievous” at times, and that while he enjoyed coaching them, he generally preferred coaching the girls.

He also noted that the boys almost always got the worst weather, battling cold in the spring, sometimes even having snow on the court. The girls play during the late summer and fall when the weather is usually nice, although sometimes the girls have to deal with the heat during early-season matches.

Another unique thing about Tyrone’s tennis program is the co-op agreement with Bellwood-Antis, which has brought players from the rival schools together on one team.

Irvin said those relationships have been one of the most positive parts of the job.

“When I grew up, Bellwood and Tyrone were bitter rivals. So you just, know, yeah, we just weren’t friends,” Irvin said. “[But now] you get to meet kids from different schools, and I think it’s tremendous. I really do. I think it’s a great thing. And I think you guys know, on our team, I think we’re all friends.”

Irvin will retire with a career coaching record of 123-210 over 26 seasons (13 girls and 13 boys seasons), which is a good record considering that, unlike some other schools, the Tyrone team is usually made up of players who are learning the sport for the first time.

His players appreciate Coach Irvin for his patience and skill in teaching the game of tennis.

“I will miss the support Coach Randy had toward the team because he pushed us to be the best players we could be during this past season,” senior Emily Christofer said.

Irvin also thanked the maintenance staff, the transportation and athletic offices, the Eagle Eye, Athletic Director Luke Rhoades, and his assistant coaches, Jim Klesius and Winnie Grot, along with all the players and parents he’s worked with over the years.

Irvin hopes to stay connected to the program in the future, as long as the incoming coach wants his help. He also plans to spend more time with his two grandchildren and introduce them to tennis.

“Tyrone is my home, my alma mater,” he said. “I’m just very thankful I got to coach here.”