For Ryan Wilson, tennis coach and history teacher at Macomb Senior High School, coaching has never been about trophies. It’s about transformation — watching teenagers evolve from uncertain freshmen into confident, grounded adults. After nearly 25 years of leading both the boys’ and girls’ tennis programs, Wilson has become a fixture in the Macomb community, a steady force guiding young athletes on and off the court.

“I coach girls' tennis in the fall and boys in the spring,” he said. “It gives me a little break in the winter, but by February we’re back at it. And honestly, I wouldn’t have it any other way.”

Wilson’s players often arrive as beginners, some having never held a racket before. “We don’t have a tennis club in Macomb, no pros giving lessons,” he said. “For almost all of my players, it’s their first day with a racket. That makes their success so much more meaningful.”

And success has followed. Wilson was recently recognized as an IHSA Coach of the Year, a distinction he calls both surprising and humbling. “I think it reflects the kids more than me,” he said. “They’ve worked incredibly hard, competing against programs that have way more resources. Every player we face has had private lessons for years — and my kids are self-taught, grinding, and outworking everybody.”

For Wilson, tennis is a metaphor for life — discipline, failure, and persistence rolled into a single practice session. “You see kids at their most vulnerable, when they’re frustrated or struggling,” he said. “But you also see the moment it clicks — when they realize they can overcome something hard. That’s where the real growth happens.”

That belief in steady growth and self-discovery extends beyond the courts. As a history teacher, Wilson sees the same transformation in the classroom. “Those four years of high school — it’s an incredible period of growth,” he said. “You’re watching kids go from junior high to adulthood. There’s no other four-year stretch in life quite like it.”

Wilson credits much of his coaching evolution to observing others. “I learned a lot from coaches here at Macomb — guys like Brock Bainter, Kelly Sears, Sean Taylor, and Jeremy Anderson,” he said. “You pick up things just by watching good people do what they do. Brock ran baseball practices where nobody stood still — every player was engaged, every drill had purpose. That really influenced how I run tennis now.”

He also discovered that sometimes less is more. “When I first started, I ran three-hour practices,” Wilson said. “We were all exhausted, and the kids couldn’t wait to leave. So I shortened them — down to an hour and a half. That changed everything. Now, kids stay after practice to hit on their own. They want more. That’s when I knew I’d gotten it right.”

Wilson’s leadership philosophy is rooted in positivity — not just in athletics, but in every corner of the school. “Team culture starts with me,” he said. “If I show up mentally ready and stay positive, it trickles down. Kids feed off that energy.” He’s quick to note, too, that a healthy team culture depends on parents. “I’ve been blessed with positive kids and positive parents,” he said. “That’s a big part of why we’ve been successful.”

Outside of teaching and coaching, Wilson co-owns a local lawn care business with his brother-in-law, special education teacher Mr. Langworthy. “We started it about 15 years ago, mostly residential, a few commercial jobs,” he said. “We hire high school kids — probably 40 or 50 over the years. For a lot of them, it’s their first job. It’s great to see them learn responsibility and take pride in their work.”

Wilson’s roots in Macomb trace back to his college years, when he joined the Army National Guard unit based near the high school. He later deployed to Iraq during the 2004–05 surge, missing the first year of his son’s life. “That was tough,” he said. “When I got back, they wanted me to reenlist, but my wife, Beate, was pretty clear that was a bad idea. She had held everything together while I was gone.”

He credits her as the real hero of his story. “Every coach will tell you — the spouse is the one doing the hard work at home,” he said. “She kept the wheels on. I couldn’t do what I do without her.”

Looking back on his career, Wilson sees his greatest reward not in wins but in moments that reveal his players’ character. “When I run into former players years later and they’re thriving, that’s the best part,” he said. “To know maybe I played a small part in that — it means everything.”

For Wilson, Macomb’s magic lies in its people. “The culture here — it’s contagious,” he said. “Everybody wants to help kids succeed. From the teachers to the bus drivers to Amy at the front desk — you walk in and see her smile, and it just sets the tone for the day.”

Whether it’s on the court, in the classroom, or mowing lawns with students, Ryan Wilson’s influence ripples across Macomb. “Sports give kids identity,” he said. “They give them purpose, belonging, and a chance to be part of something good. And when you have that, the sky’s the limit.”