Shawn Gough has been the boys varsity tennis coach at Walpole High School (WHS) for over 35 years. During his time as the tennis coach, Gough also spent his days working at Old Post Road (OPR) as a fifth-grade teacher and coaching the freshman football team. Gough grew up outside Detroit where he started playing tennis at 15-years-old. He never took a lesson, but always knew that he wanted to try it. He played tennis all four years of high school and when he was 19, he decided to try coaching a varsity team. From his time spent coaching, Gough knew that he wanted to pursue a teaching career as well and went on to spend 36 years teaching in an elementary school classroom.
In 1991, Gough began to teach at OPR and coach varsity tennis at WHS. Although he had only just recently become a varsity tennis coach in his hometown in Michigan, Gough knew that the work he was doing was helping his students become driven to succeed.
“That is when I came to understand the most meaningful part of coaching is rarely the scoreboard — it is the relationships built and the impact made on young student athletes during some of the most important years of their lives,” Gough said.
Gough also reflected on how proud he is to say that his work is making a difference in people’s lives. Although starting a coaching position while being a teacher was hard, Gough knew that he wanted to teach people both in the classroom and on the court.
With the last season of his tennis coaching career coming to an end, Gough feels that his team should end it off on a good note and hopefully secure a top spot in the finals.
“More than anything, I hope this season is memorable for the players. If we work hard, I think it will be a season we will all remember for a very long time,” Gough said.
While being a coach has been the highlight of his career, teaching fifth graders has also held a special place in his heart. For the past 36 years, Gough has spent his afternoons in a classroom, alongside 20 students.
“I knew I wanted to be a teacher, mainly so I could coach. Little did I know teaching would become my true passion,” Gough said.
Spending countless hours in a classroom and on the tennis courts, Gough knows that he will remember every part of his career and hopes that his students will as well.
