The Catalyst (TC): What is your experience of being a tennis coach?

Dave Tyler (DT): I didn’t start coaching until about six years ago, and I had privates. I took a kid, my top two players, and I took a kid from a 3.0 to a 6.5 UTR in two years. I took a kid from a four zero to an 8.5, so I got four years coaching at Nueva High School, and that’s a little bit different than privates. Currently, I have 12 students, right now and then, they’re all doing great. A couple of them are going to be great, and they’re going to be going to Notre Dame.

TC: What is your favorite part about coaching at NDB?

DT: The girls are just way more into it, way more receptive to change than the boys are.

TC: What part of the season are you looking forward to?

DT: I’m looking to see the girls learn and grow and eventually win in the decision we are in.

TC: What made you want to coach for NDB?

DT: I honestly had a really fun time coaching the girls more than the boys, for reasons I just said. And my daughter graduated from Notre Dame. I know half the staff there already right now, so it just seemed like it would be a great fit

TC: What year did your daughter graduate?

DT: Class of 2018

TC: What is something that you want the NDB community to know about you?

DT: I’m married. I have two great kids, and they’re both successful. One went through Notre Dame, the other one through Serra. They were prepared very well for college, and they’re both doing great. Lastly, you know, I started playing tennis when I was 14. I played six, seven days a week, six hours a day for five years straight. And through that experience, I had a sponsor paid for my tournaments, paid for my equipment, paid for my lessons, and our lessons at the same tennis club that Tracy Austin played out of. I was in the top 100 in 18 and under So Cal, and in 2020, I was in the top 50 in the United States in the 50 and over. And you know, then I got married, got a car, and the rest is history.