Chris Farrell and Tom DeLia are the new head coaches of the Saugerties High School girls’ tennis team. They have some big shoes to fill replacing Kim Cahill, who coached the team for more than 30 years. (photo by Robert Ford)
How do you replace a legend? If you’re Tom DeLia, you get her approval and move full steam ahead.
DeLia, who graduated from Saugerties High School in 2012, is the new head coach of the girls’ tennis team replacing Kim Cahill, who had coached the girls’ and the boys’ teams for more than 30 years.
DeLia, who recently graduated from SUNY Ulster, had a leg up when it came to being appointed to the coaching job. Cahill recommended him. He played for Cahill on the boys’ tennis team during his time at SHS.
DeLia brings along fellow Sawyer and former SHS tennis player Chris Farrell, who also played for Cahill and attended SUNY Ulster.
“We love tennis,” DeLia and Farrell said of their return to the courts of Saugerties. “We’re looking forward to the challenge,” DeLia said. “We both love tennis and we see this as a good opportunity to get experience coaching.”
And as most youth, the two are not lacking in the expectations department. When asked how they see the team doing this fall, DeLia quickly volunteers, “We’re going 10-0, although 9-1 would be okay as well.”
The team has a good frame work to build off with four retuning seniors, a handful of underclass members and one, seventh grader.
“Right now we’re getting everything sorted out, teaching some of the younger players about the game and getting them ready to win,” DeLia said.
And what did the two learn at the coaching feet of Cahill, “to have a game plan going into a match, and sticking two it as much as the player can, and to be well prepared.”
Only time will tell how well they learned those lessons from Cahill, but if matches can be won on enthusiasm, then this duo and their 13 lady players should have a successful year.