After long-time LVC tennis coach
Cliff Myers retired last week, the LVC tennis team wanted to pay an anonymous tribute to him for his years of mentorship. Here are their farewell wishes for Cliff:
"As an amazing coach and a great friend, Cliff made the LVC campus more of a home for me, and my teammates. He created a family of players, supporting our studies and sports. His positive attitude made winning, or losing, fun and I'm so thankful for having the opportunity to play under his leadership. Thanks for everything, Cliff!"
"Throughout Cliff's three years as my head coach he has always pushed me to be better. He has managed to lift my spirits when I was down, congratulate me when I was up and always push me forward. I thank him for all his determination, loyalty and love for every single one of his players. Congratulations Cliff!"
"When I decided to play tennis my freshman year I was beyond nervous. I was afraid of what the players would be like, how the team dynamic would be, if I could balance being on the team with being successful in the classroom, and what kind of coach I would have. Because of Cliff, none of these things ended up being of any concern to me. From the minute I walked on the court, I felt comfortable. Everyone was so easy-going and friendly, and Cliff was the one who created that atmosphere."
"I can't explain to you what Cliff means to our tennis family. Not only has he shaped us into better players, but he has shaped us into better people. He has provided us with the means necessary to succeed on and off the court. I will be forever grateful to him for all I have gained."
"Cliff's hard work, support, wisdom, and caring personality on and off the court have made him far more than a coach to all of us! We are all so blessed to have such an extraordinary person in our lives, and we wish him nothing but the best!"
"Coach tells it like it is. It was not always exactly what we wanted to hear, but it was what we needed to hear to have a successful season. If we played like crap, he would let us know. If we played like champions, he would let us know. Coach was also very supportive. Even if we tanked during a match, he would not be angry with us. Obviously, winning the conference, however, made him quite proud. It was an honor to play with the Dutchmen for four years and even a bigger honor to play under
Cliff Myers. He is a good guy."
"Cliff, your knowledge and passion for the game of tennis has proven invaluable to me throughout my tennis career at LVC...Not only have you taught me how to succeed on the tennis court, but you've taught me how to apply those same psychological components to everyday normal life...for that, I place you on a very high pedestal...thank you."
"Even though Cliff never got us to line up in order before a match, he did, however, lead us to beat E-Town and win the conference last year, so I guess that's a pretty fair trade-off!! Thanks for the memories!"
"What I think of when I think about Cliff, other than the Hawaiian print shirts, is how he cared about us as more than just his players. He cared about how we were doing in our classes, our future plans, and as individuals. He treated us like we were his own kids, something that he was never required to do. He also knows the game of tennis very well and has taught me a lot of strategy in the game."
"Cliff is the heart of the LVC tennis program. He understood the delicate balance between athletics and academics. He was just as proud of our classroom success as he was with our success on the court. The man does not like to lose and he makes it known, but he would never put the weight of the team on one person's shoulders. Cliff's motivational speeches left much to be desired, but when we were on the court, we were fighting for Cliff just as much as we were fighting for LVC. It was truly an honor to play under Cliff's tennis genius and I value the friendship I shared with him."
