Bamastatesports.com is taking some time out this summer to speak with all 11 of ASU's head coaches. Next up in the spotlight is tennis coach Anuk Christiansz. Coach Anuk led the Hornets to the men's first SWAC Championship, a program-best 12 wins and a NCAA Tournament berth this past season. Q: Which coaches/people influenced you the most?
A: "I like to learn from all coaches and not necessarily tennis coaches. I really like coach [Nick] Saban, the football coach because of his attention to detail. I like his philosophy and he's very professional. I have even learned from my players. It's never too late to learn and you can always get better. I have learned from several people along the way and it could be even the smallest of things whether it is punctuality or practice habits or professionalism. Then, there are some coaches that I have seen that I thought that I don't want to coach like they do. I don't want to cuss at my players. There are always better ways to do it. There are always nicer ways to handle things."
Q: How did you get into coaching?
A: "I was at a country club many years ago and I was teaching lessons. There was no purpose behind it. I was at a point where I almost hung it up and was going to do something else. During one of the lessons that I was teaching, a dad of one of the players mentioned to me that there was a position open at Auburn-Montgomery. I don't know what it was, but I just went straight from the country club to their tennis office because I wanted to find out. I took much less money to take that position. Ever since then, I knew that I wanted to be a college tennis coach. This was about 17 years ago. My wife tells me that I found my calling. I love mentoring young people. To me, tennis is important, but to see them do well outside the court is even more important. They will come a day, maybe 10 years from now, where my students will come back to me and say, 'Thanks coach for pushing me.' Even if they become a professional tennis player, one day that will come to an end."
Q: What do you do to unwind during the offseason?
A: "I go into the gym every morning. I like to stay in shape. I think it's important to look the part. I love riding my motorcycle. I take different trips. In July, I'm going to travel on motorcycle to Croatia and through the Italian and Austrian Alps. I like to read self-help books and very interesting photography. Then, I try to learn how to play the guitar. I like to keep my mind busy and try to learn new things."
Q: How do you prepare for the upcoming season?
A: "Every year, I try to get better at what we are doing. I always think that this year, we can do something better than last year. We made tremendous headway on the men's side in coming to win the conference so now it's about getting the players ready in a different way. I like to set higher goals so complacency doesn't set in. The beauty of college coaching is that it's always a revolving process."
Q: Favorite motto/saying?
A: "Do the right thing. Take care of details."
Q: If I'm a player of yours, what should I never do to get on your bad side?
A: "Lie. If a player came to me and was honest and said that they did something stupid, then you can't fault them because I do stupid things. So, if they come to me and say that they screwed up, you look at it and say what can you do? Try to fix it."
Q: What drives you?
A: "Young people. They are the one who shape our future. They're in college and about to make the transition into the real world. I think that we need to help them-even if it's in the smallest way. Young guys and girls say they want to do this and that. For example, I had a kid who was lost. He wanted to major in one thing and then he changed his major. Then, he changed his major again. He was getting ready to quit school. I finally told him, 'Look, I think you need to major in physical education. You love sports. You're not the kind of guy who is going to want to wear a suit and tie in the office. I was a business major. I didn't like it. Now, this guy is flourishing and is doing well. Every coach should help their players find their calling."
Q: What is something that most people don't know about you?
A: "I would have loved to have been a football coach. I love all the strategy that goes with it. There are lots of moving parts and it's a great sport. Time management. The offense. The defense. There is a lot going on. I would think it would be very exciting to be coaching in front of 90,000 people. "
Q: What is your favorite book?
A: "Anything with motorcycles and travel."
Q: What is your favorite college experience?
A: "Getting an education."
Q: What is your favorite song?
A: "Hmm, I have a lot of them. I like U2 a lot. One of the songs I really like is the one that was written for the Nelson Mandela movie. 'Ordinary love.' I also like 'Every breaking wave' a lot."
Q: Over the past year, I've learned how to…
A: "manage my time and become more organized."
Q: The greatest gift I ever received was when…
A: "I became a grandparent to Sam because I don't have children. Sam is four years old now. I have a stepdaughter. I have lived my life in some ways through my players over the past 10 years. They're like my sons or daughters. Because for four years, the parents of theirs come and go, 'here' and you look after them. You want to see them succeed."
Q: My autobiography would be called…
A: "I had a great time."
#GOHORNETS#
