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04/29/2021 12:00 AMJohn Higgins has a goal above all others for his athletes: improvement. John took on the head coaching position for the North Haven boys’ tennis team this spring, and he’s been helping his players out as they compete in one of the toughest conferences in the state.
Growing up in the New Haven area, John’s athletic career centered around basketball and baseball. John went to college at the University of Richmond in Virginia, and that’s where he first started to play tennis on a recreational basis.
“I grew up in New Haven. I played basketball and baseball. Tennis wasn’t really a game we played. I fooled around a bit with it. I think we played more home run derby on the tennis courts back then than anything,” John says. “I started playing tennis in college at University of Richmond with a bunch of my friends. The weather was a bit nicer than New England weather. I think the movement on the tennis court is similar to that of basketball. It’s the same kind of footwork.”
John developed his coaching skills as a basketball coach first and foremost, but he’s also coached baseball. It’s been a while since John has coached since his career in telecommunications required frequent travel to New York City. John worked as an assistant tennis pro at the former Oak Lane Country Club. After John retired, he had more time available for coaching.
“In the past, I’ve coached basketball, and I also coached baseball for one season like a hundred years ago,” says John. “I ran some junior teams back when I was an assistant tennis pro at a club. It is sort of similar concept to a high school program.”
John prioritizes development over victories. When the end of the season rolls around, John won’t look at North Haven’s record or where the team finishes in the standings. Instead, John will evaluate his players’ skills compared to where they were at the campaign’s outset. Eventually, that approach should lead to more wins for his club.
“I’ll say that the thing I’m the most proud of doesn’t come down to wins or losses. It comes down to seeing kids improve and seeing them gain confidence in themselves,” says John. “When I coached basketball, I saw some kids who could barely make a layup, then start to make baskets. You’d see the smiles on their faces. I’ve had undefeated seasons, but I was more proud of seeing those kids grow in confidence.”
North Haven’s athletes have some room to grow this year after the COVID-19 pandemic caused the cancellation of the 2020 season. A lot of North Haven’s players are either rusty or are competing for the first time. John welcomes everyone to the team as long as they are willing to learn and put in the work.
“I’ve got some really good kids. They are a fun group. It’s a good mix of seniors and underclassmen. I think a lot of them haven’t played tennis in two years due to COVID. Others haven’t even played tennis before,” John says. “It’s a lot of working on fundamentals and getting these kids able to compete in a very competitive environment. We play in an extremely difficult conference with teams like Amity, Cheshire, Guilford, Fairfield Prep, Xavier, Notre Dame. It’s probably the toughest tennis schedule North Haven has faced by far.”
John has been taking into account where his players are in terms of their skill progression on the tennis court. Some players need more intensive coaching than others, and John is certainly up to that challenge.
“We have 15 kids, so it can be a challenge with only one of me. We only have four courts, too. These kids’ differences in skill levels means we have to work on different things,” says John. “The younger kids need work on fundamentals like shoulders over the feet and ready position. It’s a lot of repetition. I’ll also work with an individual who’s very steady, and I’ll work on getting more aggressive in shot selection. Others, I will work on consistency or a stroke that can keep them in a match by keeping the ball in play. Everyone is working on their serves.”
John caught wind of the opening for the boys’ tennis position through North Haven’s girls’ tennis Head Coach Bob Migliorini, who plays tennis with John at the High Lane Club in North Haven. Coach Migliorini feels that John is a perfect fit for the job because of his personality and skills.
“John’s a really good player in both singles and doubles. We play together quite often. He’s obviously very knowledgeable and a very strong player. Also, I just thought he would be a good fit. He’s been involved coaching other sports. He interacts well with other people. He’s got a great demeanor, and he can coach children and young adults,” Migliorini says. “We’re both members of the High Lane Club, and that’s where we met. We’ve known each other for close to 30 years. When I knew that the boys’ opening came to be, I just made him aware of it and thought he would be a good candidate.”
John is looking forward to seeing North Haven get its first victory, and he knows that it will come with time. John sees the work that his athletes are putting in, and he feels proud that they are all keeping their heads held high. John knows that type of confidence is a major component in building a winner.
“As a team, I would say they are all working hard, and it is a challenge with the schedule we have. To see these kids keep their spirits up after getting beat solidly is great,” says John. “They come out and play the next day really hard. They give their best, and that’s all I can ask. I’m proud of them that they keep on fighting.”