Beads of sweat drip down foreheads as girls shuffle from the baseline to the net and back, sneakers squeaking on newly painted courts. Behind them, head coach Andy Chang calls out, “High knees! Let’s go!”

After coaching for 28 years, girls and boys head tennis coach Andy Harader stepped down this year due to health reasons and age. Chang, the previous JV tennis coach, has become the new head coach for both the boys and girls teams. 

Chang said his connection to the sport goes back decades and is rooted in his own experience as a player who was raised locally. 

“I grew up in the Bay Area, and I played varsity for four years in high school,” Chang said. “I finished varsity team captain, and in college, I played some club tennis. I previously coached at Girls’ Middle School and then Notre Dame High School.” 

Before coaching, Chang said he built a career in marketing, but he eventually realized he belonged in a different environment. 

“I realized my true passion was teaching,” Chang said. “Whether it was tennis or marketing, helping others improve is what I enjoyed most.”

Reflecting on the start of the season, Athletic Director Scott Davis said Chang’s short time on the team has been impressive. 

“Coach Andy showed right away that he is dedicated and passionate not only for tennis, but more importantly, the student-athletes at Paly and their wellbeing and success,” Davis said. “He has great ideas that will help strengthen the tennis program and the entire athletic program.”

Junior and varsity player Tess Li said she has already felt Chang’s support.

“I remember there was a match I lost pretty badly,” Li said. “I thought he was going to be mad, but he was very encouraging and gave me constructive criticism. That’s what made me think, ‘Yeah, he’s a good coach.’ He cares a lot and is very professional.” 

Former Athletic Director Jennifer Crane, who hired Chang as JV coach a year ago, said his steady presence made him stand out in the hiring process. 

“Paly athletes are competitive, motivated and curious,” Crane said. “They respond well to coaches who listen and collaborate with them. Andy’s calm, thoughtful style allows players to grow while still feeling like their voices matter. That kind of partnership is a great fit for our athletes.”

While drills and match play are important, Chang said tennis should ultimately teach more than just technique.

“There’s a lot of great life skills that they can learn,” Chang said. “They develop communication skills and social skills and also learn to deal with losses and stay positive.” 

Crane also said Chang’s impact extends beyond the court. 

“Off the court, he’s approachable, supportive and invested in the well-being of his players,” Crane said. “He notices the little things — like encouraging a quiet player to step into a leadership role or helping someone balance academics and athletics.”

While Chang hopes the team can move back to the upper league, he said his coaching style isn’t centered on scoreboards and rankings. 

“Even if they don’t perform well, I want them to still feel positive and able to keep going,” Chang said. “I told them not to really focus on winning or losing but more so improving and developing their skill set.”

Senior captain Veronica Qiu said she has already noticed Chang’s commitment in the way he runs practices.

“He’s very energetic and organized and always seems to put the team’s needs first,” Qiu said. “He’s very dedicated to our team and helping us improve as players. During practices, he’s much more organized with drills and lineups and matches.”

Davis said that dedication hasn’t gone unnoticed. 

“I think his knowledge and passion will help lead the program to a lot of success,” Davis said. “Their culture will go far beyond wins and losses. It will create an environment where the student-athletes will get so much more out of the program when they are done.” 

Chang said he values the principles Harader previously set while running the team, but he also aims to put his own spin on the program.

“Like Andy, I took as many of those trying out as I could, put them on the courts and trained them,” Chang said. “I give them a lot of time and a lot of opportunities, but all I ask for in return is their commitment to the team and their attendance to practice.”

As a result of his new work, Chang said he is already seeing the program grow.

“This year we had a record number of tryouts,” Chang said. “We unfortunately had to cut about 15 girls,  but I think it really shows the strength of the program.”

Chang said he has also focused on streamlining the path of playing tennis in Palo Alto public schools by  ensuring there are opportunities for aspiring middle school tennis players to gain exposure to the team early on. Over the summer, he ran the Paly Summer Tennis Camp for middle schoolers and rising freshmen, with high school members helping coach. 

“It was a great way to spread awareness about the program and leadership experience for the high school players,” Chang said. 

During the school year, Chang also has clinics to provide additional opportunities to learn.

“We hold group clinics which are open to anyone,” Chang said. “There, some middle schoolers who are aspiring high school players come and hit with us as well.” 

Qiu said she has also noticed a shift in how practices are structured this year. 

“One big change is that we’re practicing as one big team, JV and varsity together,” Qiu said.

Although it might be different from the team’s previous practice format, Chang said he hopes it will strengthen the cross-team connection. 

“We want players to be able to mingle a bit more,” Chang said. “Before, I think there was quite a separation between JV and varsity, and the divide wasn’t very conclusive to a team environment. By putting the teams together during practices, it breaks down that barrier. It’s also a good opportunity for the top of JV to practice with the top of varsity. It’ll make the transition more fluid.”

For Chang, the shift toward more structured practices comes from his first impressions of the program as a parent.

“I was first introduced to the Paly tennis program overall when my son tried out for JV three years ago,” Chang said. “I watched what the coaches were doing, and it was very laid back, and it was just match play. There were no drills. There was no identification of what players needed to work on or things that really helped them improve. So, I thought initially, as a parent, the program could be a lot better.”

And Qiu said she feels like she’s being pushed harder this season. 

“His drills challenge me every day,” Qiu said. “They’ve definitely forced me to become more active mentally on the court — and physically, too.”

Chang has also found some new coaches to help out during practice and clinics. Returning players said the change has been noticeable. 

“It does feel different this year,” junior and returning varsity player Jaslynn Lee said. “I don’t know if it’s because of the way practice is planned or if it’s because the seniors from last year are gone, or if it’s the mixing of the two teams, or a new coach.” 

Davis said he acknowledges that stepping into an established program requires patience.

“Coming into a new program, building connections and trust with the returners takes time,” Davis said. 

Despite the shift, Qiu said she appreciates Chang’s energy and efforts. 

“If you have issues you can always talk to him,” Qiu said. “There were a lot of changes, so I think it’s going to take returning players a little time to get used to his coaching style, but I know a lot of girls and their parents who are very, very, happy with his enthusiasm.” 

Lee agrees.

“It’s still early in the season, but the change could be good. I hope that this year, we’ll be able to be better and stronger as a team, and we’ll be able to feel the connection and be as close as the team was last year,” Lee said. 

While practices are packed with drills and match play, Chang says his favorite moments are during van rides to away games. 

“Sometimes the girls sing songs, play music and gossip,” Chang said. “It’s just really welcoming and fun to be part of that.” 

For him, those small moments matter just as much as wins and losses. 

He said, “I can’t wait to see what’s in store for these players.”