The culture around every single Derby High School program is to win. After another successful season, the boys tennis team sent three seniors to the Class 6A tournament.
Despite giving all of the props to the boys, coach Kristen Regier and assistant coach Kristin Kohr played an essential role in getting them to that next step.
For the last seven years, Kohr has been coaching tennis. But even before she had the official title of being a coach, she was giving training lessons all the way back from high school.
“I had two older siblings who were playing tennis, so I begged to have a racket and started playing when I was 3,” Kohr said. “That developed into a love of the game and playing competitively in the summers.
“My middle and high school coaches always had summer programs. When I was on the high school team, we helped with the younger kids. I love kids and realized I really wanted to give back and coach kids to not only play, but just love the sport.”
With her deep love of the sport, Kohr has developed into the type of coach who always has a positive mindset, making sure does a good job focusing on trying to help the athletes get in the right mindset and just play.
“I focus on giving them the tools they need in practice to compete,” Kohr said. “My goal is to ensure the athletes believe in themselves and let muscle memory take control.”
As good as the tennis team has been, Regier notes how important Kohr is to the program.
“Coach Kohr brings a high level of experience and expertise to the team,” Regier said. She is knowledgeable and has an incredible ability to teach this complicated sport to any level of player.
“The players absolutely love her. She is so positive and builds up each one. Kohr’s compassionate, yet competitive nature is an invaluable part of our team. I wouldn’t be able to do what I do, if she wasn’t my right hand.
