Uni tennis coach John Kessler healthy and ready to guide girls and boys teams in same season

University boys tennis coach John Kessler (left, front row) after the Trojans won the CIF title in 2019. (Photo courtesy University tennis)

University High School’s long-time and highly successful tennis coach John Kessler said he is “doing much better” and ready to coach both the varsity boys and girls tennis teams next spring.

“I have recovered nicely from my event in November,” Kessler said in an Email to OC Sports Zone Sunday.

Kessler was hospitalized with a brain hemorrhage in November and took some time off from coaching and teaching. At the time, he was not sure when he would return to coaching the boys and girls teams.

But now he said he is ready to take on the new challenges, which are part of the new CIF plan that groups both the girls and boys tennis seasons in the season. Girls tennis is typically played in the fall and boys tennis in the spring.

Girls tennis is scheduled to start Feb. 22 and boys tennis March 1 if the plan can be implemented.

“Yes, I will be coaching the boys and girls teams this year,” Kessler said. “As coaches we are trying to process and figure out how this will all work.

“Having two teams play in the same season will present a challenge with court time and the logistics of supervision. To be honest, I have actually been excited about trying to figure out how this will all go. Having the boys and girls our together can be a fun experience.

“As a teacher and coach this whole situation is tough. We want to be with our students in the classroom and with our athletes on the court. However, with the current situation that isn’t possible so we all have to be flexible and creative to find ways to make this all work.”

Kessler has led University to the CIF finals 18 times (11 for the boys and seven for the girls) and led the teams to 12 CIF titles.

-Tim Burt, OC Sports Zone; timburt@ocsportszone.com