From Malaysia to Wichita: Linny Tan turns college setbacks to coaching success

After a successful freshman season, these setbacks caused Tan to burn out. She decided to continue her studies at Oklahoma Baptist after the team was shuttered. But after a year away from the sport, she started to feel a draw back to the courts.

“During that year without tennis, I realized that the thrill of being challenged, of having a goal to work towards, of being on a team that understands your experience as a tennis player, is irreplaceable and precious,” she said. “Therefore, I made the decision to transfer to John Brown University to continue my college tennis career.”

The experience at John Brown University in Arkansas reinvigorated Tan. She learned how to successfully balance tennis with student life and found a welcoming Christian community, which led to a renewed passion for the sport and for life. While she was no longer chasing a professional tennis career, it was then and there she opened her mind to becoming a tennis coach.

Coaching in Wichita

After college, Tan moved to Wichita and began her coaching career at Genesis Rock Road. She’s been there for over a year, though she said it feels like longer.

“My husband has been working (at Genesis Rock Road) for almost four years, and I visited him in Wichita during the summers,” she said.

Tan coaches preteens transitioning to competitive play as part of a pre-high-performance group. The program helps players build their skills as they work toward playing in high school and college.

“The favorite part of my job is watching them grow as a person and as a tennis player,” Tan said. “Tennis instills great life skills in people such as resilience in the face of failure, persistence amidst suffering, a tenacity and fighting spirit when competing for something that you’re passionate about.

“Sportsmanship when competing hard, respect and trust for your coaches, and how to learn confidence through showing up with intention to improve every day, even when we do not feel like it. Watching the kids I coach learn those skills day in and day out — and struggling but not giving up on themselves — is one of the most fulfilling experiences of my life.”

Tennis Lessons

From those early years on crowded courts in Malaysia with her brother to a fulfilling career coaching kids who, like her, have big tennis dreams, Tan has so much gratitude for what tennis has brought to her life.

“As a performance coach, my favorite part about tennis is what it has taught me,” she said. “But as a tennis player, my favorite part is the trips. Traveling with a team of like-minded people who share a passion but come from different walks of life is so much fun. I got to see so much of the world through tennis and because of tennis, which I am grateful for.”

If you’re thinking about playing tennis, Tan said go for it.

“It’s never too late to start, and you can only gain from trying,” she said. “There’s fun for everybody, from everywhere, at every age, at every level in tennis. And there is just something really satisfying about being able to hit a yellow ball back and forth with someone.”

In all, Tan has a deep appreciation for her family, who encouraged her dreams. She remains rooted in her faith.

“I owe all of this to God, who placed self-sacrificing parents who supported my dreams for many, many years in my life,” Tan said. “That He gave me the privilege of living this life and calling me to Him in this journey; no amount of thanks can convey how grateful I am.”

Check out more stories from across the USTA Missouri Valley celebrating Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month here.