A True Coach

One of the most impressive aspects about Coach Mabry's success is how down to Earth he was as a man on the court and off it. In the Tennis world, he did not flaunt success, he always made sure his players respected their opponent. He was also a gracious man in defeat. At one stage in his career, Trinity was pushing to overtake the longest winning streak in collegiate tennis history. The stands were packed as always, and the players were favorites to achieve this fate, however they lost, and the streak was over. Butch Newman recalls Mabry being extremely satisfied with the loss, it did not hurt him in the slightest. What mattered more for Mabry was how his players reacted to this defeat. In defeat, you learn many things, and Mabry emphasized that it was how you bounce back from this that determines your character as a tennis player.

One thing that was always vital for Mabry was his players' attitude towards a smart lifestyle. One phrase that Mabry coaches by and swears to is “You can’t control the ball until you control yourself.”(Listen Magazine, January 1967) Newman continued to add that it wasn’t just tennis coaching that Mabry excelled at, it was life coaching. He explains how there were three key aspects to live life by; spirituality, academia, tennis. This is echoed in Francis A. Soper’s interview with Mabry for Listen Magazine, where he states that the three activities and habits that will make you become successful, “1. Get your education, 2. Take care of yourself, and 3. Play tennis” (Listen Magazine, January 1967, page 11).