Women’s tennis coach looks to improve spirit
COMMENTARY
Braden Howell

When the pressures of college life become too overbearing, and you feel sadness start to creep in, I offer one simple suggestion: talk to the new women’s tennis head coach Dave Borelli.

A conversation with Borelli is very similar to attending a self-help session; when it is over, you just feel good about yourself and the world around you.

“I couldn’t imagine being in a better situation,” Borelli said. “I like the events we go to, I like my kids, I like my support staff, I love all those guys.”

Even Nobel Prize winning mathematician John Nash would have trouble keeping track of how many times Borelli says he likes something.

The new women’s tennis coach came to TCU after leaving his position with the U.S. men’s team where he was in charge of player development. He brings with him his enthusiasm, optimism and the uncanny ability to make his players succeed.

His record speaks for itself. In 14 years as head coach of the women’s tennis team at the University of Southern California, he led his team to the finals 10 times, winning seven National Championships. However, his success is not what is most impressive to his players. It is his attitude.

“He knows so much about the game,” freshman Lizzy Kenfield said. “He makes it fun, clear, and he has a lot of enthusiasm. There’s less emphasis on winning and he’s always positive.”

Kenfield said she had decided to attend the University of Washington, but chose TCU in early August because she wanted to play for coach Borelli.

While Borelli has high hopes for his team and believes it can compete consistently in the top 20, it is the growth of his players as individuals, not whether they win or lose, that is most important to him.

“More than TCU, more than anything else, it’s how you represent yourself; it’s respecting yourself as a person,” Borelli said.

Freshman Gloriann Lopez said Borelli’s emphasis on the players as individuals as well as athletes has definitely helped her improve.

“It’s great because you know he wants to elevate the program to a higher level, but he’s supportive of our academics as well as athletics,” Lopez said.

Borelli was born in New York City but grew up in Connecticut. He moved to California at age 11 and after high school attended USC, where he played tennis and later coached for the Trojans. Although new to Fort Worth, Borelli believes he has found a home here.

“I didn’t know what it was like down here, but I love the city,” Borelli said. “I love the people I work for, and the quality of life is incredible. TCU is a special place.”

Though he loves talking about his current success, he is also not shy about telling stories from his past. Borelli, who is currently not married, said he had the luxury of being the first person to ever meet his wife on the original “Dating Game” show.

“I was on there with the other guys and in the end she chose me, and when we eventually got married, the show paid for our honeymoon,” Borelli said.

Ladies, coach Borelli describes himself as a history buff and avid baseball fan, who looks forward to spending time at the new Lupton Baseball Stadium.

Borelli has no kids of his own but said his tennis players are more than athletes he coaches. They are family. From talking to him it is easy to see that Borelli, just like every good father, only wants the best for his kids.

“When they look back on their experience here, I just want them to think that they were at the greatest school and that these were the best years of their lives,” Borelli said.

Braden Howell is a senior broadcast journalism major from Dallas.