Lookout Valley HS grad Tanner Stancil
At 23 years old, Tanner Stancil has his dream job.
The former Lookout Valley High School and Tennessee Wesleyan College tennis player was hired last month as the director of men's and women's tennis for Montreat (N.C.) College.
"I can't wait to get started as the new tennis coach at Montreat as it has been my dream to be a college head coach," said Stancil with a smile. "And now I get this great opportunity this early in life."
The college has had a varsity tennis program in the past, but did not field teams from spring of 2007 through this spring.
Stancil currently is the assistant tennis coach at Notre Dame and also works at the Champions Club.
"My plan is to play in the TVOC (played in the consolation finals last year) in June and then move to Montreat."
In high school, he was district and region champion as a senior in 2007 and is the only Lookout Valley player to ever play in the state tournament.
At Tenn. Wesleyan, he helped the Bulldogs qualify for the NAIA national tournament in 2010. He and former TSSAA state champion Eric Chastain (Chattanooga Christian) won their national tournament first round match at No.3 doubles even though TWC lost the match.
"To play in the NAIA nationals was an incredible experience for me, plus Eric and I won our doubles match which was great."
Stancil was TWC team captain as a junior and senior and all-Appalachian Athletic Conference and AAC Sportsman of the Year as a senior in 2012 and graduated with a B.A. degree in psychology.
contact B.B. Branton at william.branton@comcast.net