Stevenson Tennis Coach Steps Down

BUFFALO GROVE, IL - From Stevenson High School District 125: Tom Stanhope is doing what every coach dreams of: Going out on top. Four months after winning his first state championship in October, Stanhope has decided to resign as Stevenson’s girls tennis coach. He will continue to lead the school’s boys tennis program.

Stanhope issued the following statement:

“I'd like to thank the athletic department, including our retired athletic director, John Martin, and our current athletic director, Trish Betthauser, for giving me the opportunity and trust in working under some great head coaches, and ultimately, my first head coaching job. Trish has continued to support and trust our philosophy of a "team-first attitude" in an individual sport. For that, I'm forever grateful in having that freedom.

“I have also been blessed with the fantastic Stevenson tennis families and student-athletes that make every day enjoyable. Coaching has been a great way to stay involved with the community outside of the classroom. One of the biggest rewards has been staying connected with players as they mature, not just through high school, but through college and beyond in the real world as they start raising their own ‘tennis children.’ I’ve loved having former players who come back to coach, or coach elsewhere and help promote the game of tennis. The sport has given me so much and I hope it continues to do that with our own Patriots.”

Stanhope leaves behind an impressive legacy. In eight seasons leading the girls’ program, Stanhope won one Illinois High School Association state championship, finished second three times, and also placed third. His teams won seven consecutive IHSA sectional championships and six North Suburban Conference titles, including five straight from 2013-17. Stevenson compiled a dual-meet record of 124-14 under Stanhope, and in 2017 went 18-0 to complete its second straight undefeated season. The Patriots have won 33 straight dual matches dating back to October 2015.

Under his guidance, Stevenson captured two state doubles championships, and eight doubles teams won state medals. Kendall Kirsch and Alexxis Kiven won the IHSA doubles crown in 2013, and Kate Harvey and Vinaya Rao repeated the feat in 2014. Rao and Harvey also finished second in 2015. Stanhope also received third-place finishes from Kiven and Kirsch in 2011, and Elizabeth Ferdman and Gina Kondos in 2016.

Stanhope was named the Illinois High School Tennis Coaches Association Class AA Girls Coach of the Year for 2017, and also received the honor in 2014.

Stanhope was named head girls tennis coach in December 2009, six months after being selected to lead the Patriot boys’ program. He replaced Dave Wilms, who led the SHS girls tennis program for 18 seasons. Stanhope served as an assistant under Wilms for the last seven of those seasons. During his time as an assistant, Denise Muresan won the state singles championship in 2005.

Stanhope graduated from Prospect High School in 1997. While at Prospect, he earned all-state honorable mention in doubles in 1996 and 1997, and won a Mid-Suburban League doubles championship. He was an assistant coach in the Hersey High School tennis program for two years before joining Stevenson in 2003.

Photo courtesy of Stevenson High School, District 125