He’s the only guy, and the best player on the ASU women’s tennis team.
ASU assistant tennis coach Clint Letcher is in his third year of coaching the ASU women’s tennis team, and he has a reputation for being the best player on the team.
“I’m not going to deny it,” Letcher said.
ASU junior Michelle Brycki remembered a day last season when the team traveled to a tournament hosted by Cal. The team was practicing the day before the tournament, focused on having a good practice when Letcher announced that he was having a great day and had never hit the ball so well. Letcher also claimed he was the best player on the team.
“I was like ‘That’s great, Clint. That will help us in the tournament,’” Brycki said.
It’s all in good fun, though. Letcher knows the ASU women’s tennis team is comprised of extremely talented athletes.
“It’s exciting coaching an NCAA team because you’re dealing with top athletes,” Letcher said. “It’s exciting and there are no limits to what they can do.”
ASU junior Deirdre Cienki said that it’s beneficial to have a male athlete around to challenge the team. Letcher’s confidence also helps motivate the team to play better.
“He’s such a good player,” Cienki said. “He fits in, and he’s the perfect practice partner.”
The tennis team is one of the smaller teams on campus, with only eight players. When players get injured, Letcher is often required to step in and practice with the girls to make the numbers even.
Letcher usually fills sophomore Nicole Smith’s shoes because she’s taking a redshirt year to recover from her anterior cruciate ligament injury.
As a coach, Letcher has learned which players appreciate his tough competition, and which players don’t.
Freshman Jacqueline Cako and senior Kelcy McKenna are two players that like Letcher to play his best game against them.
“Jacqueline and Kelcy are out to get me,” Letcher said. “They haven’t yet.”
Letcher doesn’t mind practicing with the girls because it keeps him in shape, and he earns respect from them when he wins or helps them make adjustments to their games.
For Letcher, coaching has always come naturally. Letcher’s coaching experience derives from coaching himself on the court when he played.
“All good tennis players feel like they have to coach themselves,” Letcher said. “It’s when you’re standing on the sideline that you’re officially labeled a coach.”
Letcher played for ASU from 2001-2005, and played in the No. 1-3 positions.
After he graduated from ASU, Letcher started teaching tennis at clubs. Letcher respected the ASU women’s tennis program, and stayed in touch with head coach Sheila McInerney, making him an obvious candidate for the assistant coaching position when it opened up.
For Letcher, the best part of coaching is when the team has a good day on the courts and beats a good team. He remembers beating Cal at home last season as a big win for the Sun Devils.
Letcher plans to continue coaching women’s tennis at ASU for years down the road. Being the only guy on the team doesn’t bother him at all.
“I enjoy it here,” Letcher said. “I’ve always been a Sun Devil.”
The biggest difference between Letcher and the team is his choice in music. When driving on road trips, the girls want to listen to Usher and pop music, while Letcher prefers heavier music, like Tool.
“We all hate his music,” Brycki said. “When he’s driving he feels like it’s his ride so he plays it.”
Being the good coach that he is, Letcher has recently taken to making customized mixes with songs dedicated to each player.
Led by a coach that is not only the MVP, but also an accommodating disc jockey, the Sun Devils are bound to have an exciting season full of good tennis.
Reach the reporter at nklauss@asu.edu
