After 40 years coaching at Oak Park High School, Tana Stock earns 'special award'

Tennis has been a lifelong love for Tana Stock.

Stock is the former girls’ tennis head coach at Oak Park High School, where she also was a physical education teacher for over 30 years before retiring in 2015.

She started playing tennis in second grade. She played at North Kansas City High School and at Missouri State University, where she earned her degree in education.

Stock joined the Oak Park High School staff in 1984, becoming one of the school’s most beloved teachers. She also started coaching tennis around the same time, and she continued to do so until retiring from her head coaching duties in 2025.

“For 40 years, I had the greatest job in the world,” Stock said. “I was able to use my passion for the sport of tennis to help all levels improve their skills and have fun learning.”

Stock, who now serves as a volunteer tennis coach at Oak Park, handed off her head coaching duties to one of her former players, Haley Cope.

“I am so proud of the job that she is doing to continue our Oak Park tennis pride,” Stock said.

Cope is among several of Stock’s players to pursue passions similar to Stock’s upon their graduation from high school. Stock still keeps in touch with many of them.

“I am most proud of the relationships that I had with so many of the athletes,” Stock said. “It’s always a pleasure to stay in contact with many of the players — even some from 40 years ago. I’m also so proud of the number of players who became teachers and coaches.”

Following her final season as head coach, Stock was nominated by Scott Hanover for the USTA Heart of America High School Coach of the Year Award. She was recognized during last year’s awards ceremony.

“What an honor to receive this special award,” she said. “Over the years, I have coached with many excellent coaches, so I know what an honor this is to be chosen. I want to thank Scott Hanover for the nomination.”

The happiness of her players has always been paramount to Stock, whose caring and compassionate approach to coaching has made a lasting impact on Oak Park players over the years. It’s this approach and her passion for tennis that helped her win the award.