When people think of tennis, they may think of country clubs and private courts, but that’s not what Bayless High School tennis coach Kelly Stahlhuth believes to be an accurate representation. For years she has worked to broaden the definition of the sport that nearly ceased to exist at Bayless due to petering interest; these efforts have paid off as the program has “flourished” since reemerging in the district in 2020.
Now, Stahlhuth is being recognized for her contributions to this revived team, having been named the High School Coach of the Year in the Missouri Valley Region by the United States Tennis Association. The region includes Missouri, Iowa, Nebraska, Kansas and Oklahoma.
“I like to fly under the radar, so I think this is a nice award, but it’s really the players’ award,” Stahlhuth said. “It’s because of them that we built this team, and they keep getting better.”
Stahlhuth’s love for the sport began in her early days, when she would follow after her father, “dragging her racket,” to go hit against the wall. Her true passion kicked in when she was nine or ten, she says, when she began playing in tournaments around the area. She calls herself a “park player” — her parents weren’t able to afford a club membership, so Stahlhuth learned her craft in local parks.
She worked her way to local, state and even national tournaments, where she played junior tournaments at a national level. This earned her a college scholarship to play at Indiana University.
Eventually, Stahlhuth returned to teach and coach in St. Louis. She was 38 years old when she got a job coaching at Washington University, where she coached tennis for 15 years, until she was hired at Bayless High School.
“You know what I love? This is a really rewarding place,” Stahlhuth said. “You’re working with students who probably would never have thought, ‘Let’s give tennis a try.’ You’re teaching students who would not have been exposed to play a sport they can play forever, or just give something new a try. They love it.”
Tennis was reintroduced at Bayless High School as a co-ed sport in the 2020-2021 school year — Stahlhuth’s first year with the district. Since then, the sport has been divided into boys and girls, and she says the players have developed a passion and enthusiasm for their craft.
“My players are so fun,” Stahlhuth said. “I’m a little older. I enjoy what I’m doing. We have a good time on the court, we laugh, I can tell them really positive things, even if they didn’t win. I’m a positive person to a fault. Even if you get smoked 8-1, I still find positive things.”
Stahlhuth is adamant that the multi-state award isn’t about herself, but about her team, and about the girls she coaches. She doesn’t know who nominated her for the award in the first place, which won her High School Coach of the Year in the St. Louis Tennis District, before she filled out the application to advance to the Missouri Valley level. She thanked her anonymous nominator, saying, “It’s a small tennis world.”
“For me, (this award) is a really nice compliment to the Bronchos,” Stahlhuth said. “They’re recruiting. They’re the ones who are finding their teammates. They’re out there practicing and having fun, and that’s fun for me. It’s a great two-way street. It’s a great dynamic.”
