McLaughlin New MHS Girls' Tennis Coach
20 Mar 2008

A former Squire will lead the Manchester High School girls’ tennis team into the 2008 season.
Tim McLaughlin, a 1991 MHS graduate, takes over the head coaching duties from Eric Christiansen, who left to take the head coaching position for men’s and women’s tennis at Manchester College. McLaughlin was an assistant coach under Christiansen with the MHS boys’ team in 1998 and 1999, and with the girls’ team in 2000.
“I’m excited to be able to coach the girls this spring,” McLaughlin said. “It’s a young team, but everybody is back from last season. I’m still getting to know the girls and learning all their names.”
McLaughlin played tennis for four years at Manchester High School from 1987-1990, and one year at the University of Indianapolis.
He inherits a team that went 0-13 last season but is optimistic about the upcoming campaign.
“We didn’t lose anyone, and by the end of last season, they were really improving,” he said. “I’ve been impressed with quite a few of the girls so far, and the newer girls are learning and working hard.”
McLaughlin, a North Manchester native, has been around Manchester High School athletics since his high school days, where he played tennis, golf, and baseball. He took a job at the News-Journal in 1993 as sports editor, and has helped with photography at football and basketball games, even after he was promoted to editor in 1999.
This is his first time, however, running a high school program, but that hasn’t slowed down his enthusiasm for MHS athletics, and now, specifically, girls’ tennis.
“As a young kid, I watched high school sports, then as an adult, followed them with my job,” McLaughlin said. “I love sports, I love tennis, and I really enjoy being around teenagers, so this is a perfect fit. I am learning a lot, especially how to run and organize practices, running drills, and making sure everyone stays busy. Trying to find the right line up is also a challenge, but it’s all been fun so far.”
McLaughlin is also the president of the Manchester Recreation Association Board, and feels the two jobs parallel each other.
“There are a lot of difficult decisions to make in both jobs,” he said. “I think being president of the MRA will help me with this season.”
McLaughlin and his wife, Tawn, have three children, Connor, 14, Mathias, 7, and Taylor, 5.