District League Coordinator Jan Koder Set To Retire

As Jan Koder prepares to retire from her position as USTA District League Coordinator after 14 years, she has conflicting emotions. She is looking forward to having more free time, but has some anxiety about leaving the post after putting so much time into it. 

“I have had the pleasure and joy of working with many fine captains and making numerous acquaintances both in Iowa and throughout the Missouri Valley Section,” she said. “Helping new captains form teams, watching their enthusiasm for tennis as they achieved new skills and earned their way to championship was gratifying.”

Fellow tennis enthusiast Cindy Baddeloo has fond memories of her interactions with Koder, including playing doubles with her as well. 

“She has so much patience with coordinating USTA matches for us, always willing to answer all tennis questions, a very good tennis player, and she tries to help calm me down during our matches together,” Baddeloo recalled. 

“The most memorable is when we were doubles partners for the USTA 18+ Regionals in St Louis,” she added. “The ladies we were playing against had a combined age of 60 years younger than us. While we did not win, we had close matches and they advanced to nationals.” 

Koder said she has had her share of ups and downs over the years in her position, but always strived to do the best she can. She reflects on her time during the last 14 years. 

“No position is free of challenges and certainly advising a diverse group of players and captains offers up challenges, but the gratitude of solving a problem or assisting a captain or a player solve an issue erases the teething gnashing of other challenges.

I tried to be a good coordinator by striving to be fair, understanding, diplomatic, and without bias towards all teams, all captains, and all players.”

Jennifer Smith will be taking over for Koder as the new District League Coordinator.