Leaving behind a legacy of Love

Tennis coach Jim Love has put CLC’s teams on the national court. During his time working with both men’s and women’s tennis teams, CLC Lancers have earned three conference titles and ve regional titles. As Coach Love prepares to retire from his career, he remembers what he loved the most: spending time with the players he grew to know.

Love spent 15 years as a tennis coach at Lyons Township High School in La Grange before becoming the principal at Antioch Community High School in 1997. Following that role, Love returned to teaching tennis at LifeSport Athletic Club, formerly Libertyville Tennis Club.

CLC had a coaching vacancy for both men’s and women’s tennis in 2013, and because of Love’s reputation as a tennis coach, the college recruited him for the job.

“I was excited for the opportunity to coach at the team level again,” Love said. “I’d only been teaching individual players.”

Love’s students at the club ranged in age from 3 to 60 years. Coaching young adults at CLC was a challenge he had never faced before.

“College students have many more things going on, like work and juggling schedules,” Love said. “In high school, most players only had two things to focus on: school and tennis.”

Aside from seeing Lancers reach their goals and receive accolades for success, Love’s favorite memory is watching his players interact with each other.

“Lots of players make friendships that last a lifetime,” Love said. “It makes a coach feel good when players stay friends a er they nish playing together.”

Love is looking forward to spending his retirement with his grandchildren. He plans to teach them the sport, but he expects his life to be more about his personal relationships and less about tennis.

“I appreciate the job that Coach Love has done,” said CLC Athletic Director Brad Unger. “He’s put our men’s and women’s tennis program on the map, and he’s done it with the highest integrity and class. His record speaks for himself. He’s a legend and a hall of famer. He’s won at every level, and he’s impacted so many lives through the sport of tennis. He leaves CLC’s tennis programs in great shape and poised for future success.”