Written By Josi Patti, Unionville Press
On March 9, 2025, Coach Janet Johnston (commonly referred to as “Coach Janet”) was presented the “Coach of the Year” award for the Philadelphia Area District. This ceremony was especially memorable, as she, the nominee, is a pillar of success for the girls’ tennis team at Unionville High School. Coach Janet started volunteering in 2003, and soon after became head coach in 2004. Leading the girls to multiple victories at state and regional championships, she has been dedicated to composing a thriving, prosperous team. Though she has accomplished a great deal in her years participating in these endeavors, Coach Janet’s claim to fame is that she couldn’t do it without the guidance of her assistant coaches. She proudly acknowledges, “Ruth Russell, Marty Lane, Sharon Largent, and Anne Church. We wouldn’t have had the program and success we’ve had without them! It takes a lot of people to make a good team happen.” She praises these coaches and all by her side for encouraging her to foster mentoring capabilities for tennis. What’s best is, she’s created fellow buddies along the way.
Even as a young kid, she was active on the courts and in sports. “I played a variety of sports growing up and tennis was one of them,” she notes. Amid these years of constant playing and instruction, she has noticed that zeroing in on the difference between a player’s skills is a literal “game changer.” Up until this point, she has not only been the face of the UHS girl’s tennis team, but also a captain, and a player of the United States Tennis Association teams. She additionally curates a large indoor ladies’ league, Deltri, that meets up to play throughout fall and winter. A versatile lifestyle from coaching, getting in on the action, and juggling the weight of team management never brings her down.
Just by hearing Coach Janet’s story, it is safe to say that she stays consistent and invested in her tennis life. One could assume that with only twenty-four hours in a day, tennis is her only priority, correct? Wrong! Coach Janet works as a full-time veterinarian who specializes in emergency care. From players to patients, she learns to “go with the flow” while tending on and off the courts. She defies all generalizations in her analogy, “Accept changes as they happen and pivot if need be… kind of like a tennis point/match!” Her spirit and lessons are certainly not dull, as she strives to keep players engaged while motivated on the courts at all times. By changing up drills each day and “making each practice a bit different than the day before,” she keeps the courts lively for everyone. There are many winning points for Coach Janet, as she mixes the perfect concoction of practice and point-play strategy.
Coach Janet emphasizes the fact that tennis is a sport you can play throughout the entirety of your life. She believes that if you enjoy everything the game has to offer like friendships, exercise, and accomplishments, you’ll be able to work hard and have fun along the way! Upon reflection, she hopes to be a part of fond recollections that high school students associate with tennis from their early times. One step for each moment, day by day, persistent improvements build upon each other. With a little diligence and a threshold of grit, you’ll be set for tennis pro status.
