By Matthew Wall
Just a sophomore in college, Sheila McInerney stared down Billie Jean King, her opponent for the 1977 US Open tennis third-round match.
"She was an icon," McInerney said. "At the time, it was unusual for a college kid to be in a professional tournament playing one of their idols. It was the highlight of my personal tennis life."
While McInerney fell to the former World No. 1 player in the three-set affair (6-1, 2-6, 6-1), she returned to USC with a memory she would never forget. After three years of professional tennis, she hopped around the coaching train at USC, before being named ASU head women's tennis coach. She's been in Tempe ever since.
"If you would have told me 34 years ago that I would still be here, I probably wouldn't have believed it," McInerney said. "I've always really enjoyed it here and love the lifestyle. I've always enjoyed waking up and going to work every day."
It's the drive that she's known for. Her ability to make her players better on and off the court. Her willingness to revolve her life around the women's tennis program.
"After so many years of coaching, she's still able to connect with the kids," former Sun Devil tennis player Reka Cseresnyes said. "She is able to motivate and bring the best out of you. It seemed like she always knew what you needed. She knew us better than we knew ourselves."
Cseresnyes, a member of the Sun Devil Hall of Fame, credited McInerney for her Sun Devil success. During her playing career, Cseresnyes was a four-time All-American and, was at one point, ranked No. 15 in the country.
"I can't think of a person who has had a bigger impact, other than my parents, that Sheila has had on me," Cseresnyes said. "She's brought so much out of me on many different levels. She was always conscious about developing the entire person. She looks at the whole kid. It's her approach that helps you become a better person."
The current longest-tenured ASU head coach has certainly achieved some notable recognition over the years. She was named to the Greater Utica Sports Hall of Fame, has notched 495 career victories, named the recipient of the 2016 ITA Meritorious Service Award and led her team to 30-straight NCAA Tournament appearances.
"Sheila comes in with such passion for not only coaching her sport, but for making sure the athletes well-being is taken care of," former ASU women's golf coach Linda Vollstedt said. "She's interested in academics and making sure that her players are getting a good educational experience along with their sport experience. She's been a great ambassador for her sport. She's had an impact on not only tennis, but all sports at ASU."
Playing the sport of tennis since the age of eight years old has given McInerney a competitive advantage over many of her fellow coaches around the country.
"I guess I would say I'm a tennis lifer," McInerney said. "There's not too many days of my life that haven't revolved around tennis."
One of the longest tenured tennis coaches in the NCAA, McInerney has had to adapt to an evolving industry with new recruiting changes and technology adaptations.
"They haven't kicked me out yet, so that's a good thing," McInerney said. "You evolve and change. I feel like I'm a much better coach in my 34th year than I was in my fourth year, that's for sure. You are always learning and the game has progressed. If you don't get better, you get worse."
The latter phrase is one that her players know very well. It has become one of her infamous quotes of the day.
"If you don't get better, you get worse," McInerney said. "You are always looking to improve. If you stay the same, people are going to pass you. You have got to know you can't stand still. You are always looking to get better."
Former student athlete and 2016 Pac-12 women's tennis doubles champion Alexandra Osborne knows first-hand the competitive spirit that McInerney preaches.
"McInerney is one of the most passionate coaches that I have ever come across competing as a college athlete, "Osborne said. "Her drive for her athletes to succeed and her love for the sport is immeasurable."
McInerney hopes her athletes walk away having learned how to approach the future after school and gain independence.
"That's the beauty of college tennis and college sports in general," McInerney said. "Really seeing the maturation of your student athletes from 18-year-old freshman to young women, hopefully prepared to enter the world when they're done."
Many of those athletes look at their head coach as a role model, especially being miles and miles away from their hometown.
"She really was our mother away from home," Cseresnyes said. "Even after twenty something years, I still know her phone number by heart. If you woke me up in the middle of the night, I could still tell you Sheila's phone number."
Cseresnyes and her fellow ASU tennis alumni organized a 50th birthday party surprise at the Carson Athletic Center and flew from all around the world to support her a couple years back.
"She showed up in her tennis clothes," Cseresnyes said. "For 15 minutes, she was just looking around at most of her players from the last 25 years, her family, her parents. That was a testament to how much she means to us."
During her storied career, McInerney and her competitive drive have never taken their foot off the gas.
"Her energy and desire to win is contagious," Vollstedt said. "When you build that culture, players are going to do everything they can and they will jump through walls for you because they know how much she cares about them."
(Arizona native Matthew Wall graduated from the University of Arizona in 2017 and is now a graduate student in the Masters of Sports Law & Business program in the Sandra Day O'Connor College of Law. Matthew worked for four years for the Arizona Daily Wildcat's Sports Desk and has won Arizona Press Club and Better Newspaper Contest awards. He aspires to work in community relations, creating make-a-wish type moments for fans and athletes.)
Just a sophomore in college, Sheila McInerney stared down Billie Jean King, her opponent for the 1977 US Open tennis third-round match.
"She was an icon," McInerney said. "At the time, it was unusual for a college kid to be in a professional tournament playing one of their idols. It was the highlight of my personal tennis life."
While McInerney fell to the former World No. 1 player in the three-set affair (6-1, 2-6, 6-1), she returned to USC with a memory she would never forget. After three years of professional tennis, she hopped around the coaching train at USC, before being named ASU head women's tennis coach. She's been in Tempe ever since.
"If you would have told me 34 years ago that I would still be here, I probably wouldn't have believed it," McInerney said. "I've always really enjoyed it here and love the lifestyle. I've always enjoyed waking up and going to work every day."
It's the drive that she's known for. Her ability to make her players better on and off the court. Her willingness to revolve her life around the women's tennis program.
"After so many years of coaching, she's still able to connect with the kids," former Sun Devil tennis player Reka Cseresnyes said. "She is able to motivate and bring the best out of you. It seemed like she always knew what you needed. She knew us better than we knew ourselves."
Cseresnyes, a member of the Sun Devil Hall of Fame, credited McInerney for her Sun Devil success. During her playing career, Cseresnyes was a four-time All-American and, was at one point, ranked No. 15 in the country.
"I can't think of a person who has had a bigger impact, other than my parents, that Sheila has had on me," Cseresnyes said. "She's brought so much out of me on many different levels. She was always conscious about developing the entire person. She looks at the whole kid. It's her approach that helps you become a better person."
The current longest-tenured ASU head coach has certainly achieved some notable recognition over the years. She was named to the Greater Utica Sports Hall of Fame, has notched 495 career victories, named the recipient of the 2016 ITA Meritorious Service Award and led her team to 30-straight NCAA Tournament appearances.
"Sheila comes in with such passion for not only coaching her sport, but for making sure the athletes well-being is taken care of," former ASU women's golf coach Linda Vollstedt said. "She's interested in academics and making sure that her players are getting a good educational experience along with their sport experience. She's been a great ambassador for her sport. She's had an impact on not only tennis, but all sports at ASU."
Playing the sport of tennis since the age of eight years old has given McInerney a competitive advantage over many of her fellow coaches around the country.
"I guess I would say I'm a tennis lifer," McInerney said. "There's not too many days of my life that haven't revolved around tennis."
One of the longest tenured tennis coaches in the NCAA, McInerney has had to adapt to an evolving industry with new recruiting changes and technology adaptations.
"They haven't kicked me out yet, so that's a good thing," McInerney said. "You evolve and change. I feel like I'm a much better coach in my 34th year than I was in my fourth year, that's for sure. You are always learning and the game has progressed. If you don't get better, you get worse."
The latter phrase is one that her players know very well. It has become one of her infamous quotes of the day.
"If you don't get better, you get worse," McInerney said. "You are always looking to improve. If you stay the same, people are going to pass you. You have got to know you can't stand still. You are always looking to get better."
Former student athlete and 2016 Pac-12 women's tennis doubles champion Alexandra Osborne knows first-hand the competitive spirit that McInerney preaches.
"McInerney is one of the most passionate coaches that I have ever come across competing as a college athlete, "Osborne said. "Her drive for her athletes to succeed and her love for the sport is immeasurable."
McInerney hopes her athletes walk away having learned how to approach the future after school and gain independence.
"That's the beauty of college tennis and college sports in general," McInerney said. "Really seeing the maturation of your student athletes from 18-year-old freshman to young women, hopefully prepared to enter the world when they're done."
Many of those athletes look at their head coach as a role model, especially being miles and miles away from their hometown.
"She really was our mother away from home," Cseresnyes said. "Even after twenty something years, I still know her phone number by heart. If you woke me up in the middle of the night, I could still tell you Sheila's phone number."
Cseresnyes and her fellow ASU tennis alumni organized a 50th birthday party surprise at the Carson Athletic Center and flew from all around the world to support her a couple years back.
"She showed up in her tennis clothes," Cseresnyes said. "For 15 minutes, she was just looking around at most of her players from the last 25 years, her family, her parents. That was a testament to how much she means to us."
During her storied career, McInerney and her competitive drive have never taken their foot off the gas.
"Her energy and desire to win is contagious," Vollstedt said. "When you build that culture, players are going to do everything they can and they will jump through walls for you because they know how much she cares about them."
(Arizona native Matthew Wall graduated from the University of Arizona in 2017 and is now a graduate student in the Masters of Sports Law & Business program in the Sandra Day O'Connor College of Law. Matthew worked for four years for the Arizona Daily Wildcat's Sports Desk and has won Arizona Press Club and Better Newspaper Contest awards. He aspires to work in community relations, creating make-a-wish type moments for fans and athletes.)