The West Michigan tennis community mourned the loss of 85-year-old Tiger Teus

Holland High Schools ’tennis program announced the death of former coach Dwayne Tiger Teusink on Monday.

Teusink, a 1954 graduate from Holland who coached Dutch girls in tennis from 1972 to 1997 and a boys ’program for several years, was 85 years old.

Deeply sad to hear the news that Tiger Teusink died today at the age of 85. His impact on the Dutch tennis and tennis complex extends far and wide, the Dutch Dutch Tennis Twitter account said. One of the best ever. Prayers for a loved one.

Click here to see the full tweet.

Teusinks High School had a coaching career of more than 40 years and had served at Jackson High School before returning to the Netherlands in the early 1970s. Teusink, a 1958 graduate of Hope College, collected a career record of 453-176-4 and collected 16 regional and 13 conference championships. In 2005, Teusink was named National Tennis Coach of the Year by the U.S. Tennis Association.

Teusink also influenced the game at the collegial, community, and state levels. Teusink was appointed director of the Holland Community Tennis program in 1973, and was an assistant coach on the Hopes women’s teams. Teusink served as director of the Hopes Dewitt Tennis Center when he retired as coach of the Netherlands.

The Michigan High School Tennis Coaches Association’s Tiger Teusink Award is given to the best female player in the states each year, and Holland High School named its tennis court after her. Teusink had served as president, vice president, and secretary / finance minister of the MHSTCA during his career, and was a member of the final committee of the Michigan High School Athletic Association for more than 30 years. He also dominated regional and final tournaments.

Teusink is a member of four tennis halls, including the Western Michigan Tennis Association Hall of Fame (2020), as well as the Michigan High School Tennis Coaches Hall of Fame (1986), the Michigan High School Coaches Hall of Fame (1989), and the National High School Coaches Hall of Fame. Fame (2003).