![Changing the game. Head coach Benjamin Dalton [LEFT] talks to two tennis players, junior Taylor Jarrett and senior Leonidas Greaves [RIGHT] to coach them through a technique to make them better tennis players. Dalton was an assistant coach last year, but this is the first year he is head coach."The head coach has a lot more of getting everything in place," Dalton said.](https://beaststudentmedia.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/tennis-pic-for-web-1200x800.jpg)
Thwack — a bright green ball bounced from one side of the short net to the other as the boys tennis head coach, Instructor Benjamin Dalton swung his tennis racket. The grating sound of tennis shoes shuffling could be heard all along the court. After a few seconds, the ball hit the net and Dalton stopped to demonstrate to the other player a more efficient way of swinging the racket before continuing the drill.
Instructor Benjamin Dalton is in his first season of being head coach after previous coach, Krista Tew, resigned.
“There’s a learning curve to it when you first do it,” Dalton said.
It’s common for someone to be nervous when attempting something new, especially when their teammates are depending on them. After taking on the role of head coach when Instructor Krista Tew left her spot, Dalton says it makes him feel uncertain.
“I get a little nervous that I might be missing a step or not doing something exactly how I’m supposed to or not asking the right person the right questions,” Dalton said.
Senior Leonidas Greaves, who plays for the boys tennis team, says he feels Dalton has had a positive impact on his performance. For the future, he hopes that his team keeps getting better with Dalton as head coach.
“If there’s something we’re not doing well he really makes sure that we focus on that and do it until we’re doing it right,” Greaves said.
Now that Dalton has taken the role of head coach, there is a new assistant coach: Kristin Bass, who said Dalton is a great head coach to work with.
“As a new coach myself, he explained everything really well to me,” Bass said.
Dalton has had an impact as a coach outside tennis. Alongside Dalton helping his team practice, Bass said she believes Dalton is there to support the players emotionally in stressful times.
“Even in situations where you’re upset and just relax and realize at the end of the day it’s just a game or situation,” Greaves said.
It can be hard for someone to enjoy their job sometimes. But, even with all the pressure that comes with being the main coach for a sports team, Dalton says it can also be fun.
“I think learning how to do it is kind of fun and once you know the process it’s a lot easier,” Dalton said.
