Missouri Valley / Oklahoma

Ada’s tennis tradition thrives under National Coach of the Year Terry Swopes

Natalia Arbelaez | October 13, 2025

October is National Coach Appreciation Month, a time to honor the mentors, motivators and leaders who shape athletes both on and off the court. Few embody that role better than Ada High School’s Terry Swopes, who has spent decades building not just winning tennis teams but a true family within his program.

In 2024, Swopes was named National Coach of the Year by the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS), a career milestone that reflects his passion for the game. He guided Ada to both the Division 4A boys’ and girls’ state championships during the 2023-24 school year. For Swopes, coaching has always been about much more than trophies or recognition, though.

“Anytime you can put the word national in front of an award you’ve won, it’s pretty special,” Swopes said. “While I don’t coach for the awards or recognition, it is always nice to be recognized, especially on a national level.”

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Swopes’ path to coaching wasn’t a straight one.

“When I graduated high school, my dad told me that I should teach math and coach tennis,” he said. “Me being an 18-year-old that knew everything already told him no way. Two years later, I changed my major and went on to teach math and coach tennis.”

That decision has shaped not only his career but also countless lives.

“Helping students, whether in school or on the court, work to meet and surpass their potential in tennis and life is what always keeps me coming back,” he said.

Building a Team & Family

Inside the Ada tennis building hangs a motto that defines Swopes’ coaching philosophy: ‘We will put the classroom first, put others first, be a positive spark in victory and defeat, represent Ada Schools with grace and class, give our max effort every time we step on the court, run until the ball bounces twice, never give up.’

“I preach the team concept nonstop,” Swopes said. “Even though tennis is an individual sport, we are a team and a family first. The wonderful thing about tennis is that so many lessons they learn on the court apply to life as well.”

After decades of coaching, Swopes—who is a Chickasaw citizen—has no shortage of career highlights. But his proudest moments are personal: coaching his sons to state championships.

“I had the opportunity to coach both my older sons and win state championships with them—Landon in 2017, 2018, 2019 and Jackson in 2024.”

Terry Swopes (far left) guided both the Ada High School boys' and girls' tennis teams to state titles during the 2023-24 school year, which helped net him National Coach of the Year recognition.

“Helping students, whether in school or on the court, work to meet and surpass their potential in tennis and life is what always keeps me coming back,” Terry Swopes said.

Terry Swopes (far left) guided both the Ada High School boys' and girls' tennis teams to state titles during the 2023-24 school year, which helped net him National Coach of the Year recognition.
“Helping students, whether in school or on the court, work to meet and surpass their potential in tennis and life is what always keeps me coming back,” Terry Swopes said.

Coaching also brings heartbreak. In November 2021, Swopes received devastating news. His player, Wyatt Brown, had died in a tragic accident.

“This shook our team to its core,” Swopes said. “Wyatt was such an incredible leader for our team. His little sister, Zoey, was a freshman that year also playing on our varsity team. I don’t know that you ever really overcome something like that, but we dealt with it how we deal with everything at Ada tennis—together. We leaned on each other and supported each other.”

Influences & Mentors

Behind every great coach stands a network of support. For Swopes, that includes his wife, Sunny, his parents, Donald and Karen, and his father-in-law, Bill Nelson. He also credited Ada coaching legends Skip Griese and the late P.T. Barnes of Duncan as instrumental mentors.

“I have great respect for them and learned so much from their example,” he said.

With October serving as Coach Appreciation Month, Swopes offered encouragement to coaches across Oklahoma.

“You are fighting the good fight and making a difference,” he said. “Stay the course and hang in there, even when times get tough.”

Ada’s facilities have recently gotten a facelift thanks to efforts by both the school system and the city.

“Ada City Schools and the City of Ada have redone our tennis center, and it looks amazing,” Swopes said. “My next goal is to get our tennis building redone. It’s on its last legs. As far as on the court, we are going to try to outwork everyone else and hopefully have a successful season.”

Check out additional Coach Appreciation Month feature stories from across USTA Missouri Valley by clicking here. Learn more about USTA Coaching by clicking here.

Rapid Fire with Terry Swopes

Favorite tennis player of all time? Boris Becker

Pre-match pump-up song? Anything from “Pitch Perfect” (especially during the girls’ tournaments)

Coffee or tea? Tea

Best post-match meal? Taco Bueno

If you weren’t coaching, what would you be doing? Probably making more money (haha)

One piece of advice to your younger self? There is no substitute for time spent on the court

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