Playing it Forward

Head Women’s Tennis Coach Jim Corn Dedicated to Developing Life Leaders

For over two decades, Corn, known for his beaming smile, has dedicated himself to developing well-rounded athletes on and off the court.

BY AVERY COPELAND

“You can take those life lessons. I don’t need to take it with me. I need to leave it with somebody. I want to give it back. Pay it forward.” Jim Corn, Gardner-Webb University women’s tennis coach, lives by this philosophy.

For over two decades, Corn, known for his beaming smile and wide brimmed hat, has dedicated himself to developing well-rounded athletes on and off the court. He emphasizes the importance of individualized coaching and adapting his teaching style to each player’s unique talents while fostering a team-centered attitude.

His commitment extends beyond and across the net, ensuring that the values and life lessons he imparts have a lasting impact on his players. By passing on the wisdom he’s gained from his own coaches and mentors, Corn embodies the idea of “playing it forward.”

Born and raised in Shelby, N.C., Corn grew up in a rich tennis culture, influenced by the Shelby Tennis Association’s establishment in 1961. At the time, Shelby had more players ranked in the state of North Carolina than any other city or town in the nation. He began playing tennis on the Association’s red clay courts at 11 years old. “When we played, everybody knew we came from Shelby because of the color of our socks,” Corn laughed.

Corn also explored team-oriented sports, including basketball, baseball and football, but ultimately found that tennis was his passion. His time pursuing other sports taught him the value of teamwork. “There’s a tremendous amount of things you can learn by playing the team sports,” he noted. These early lessons became a cornerstone of his coaching principles.

Turning his attention to tennis, Corn was ranked seventh in doubles and eighth in singles nationally by the time he was 14. He was also first in North Carolina Men’s singles at age 14, 16 and 18. Corn won 14 state titles and a Southern sectional title. His achievements gained attention from the recruiters for the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (UNC).

Corn became the first student-athlete to ever receive a full tennis scholarship to UNC, where he played under North Carolina Sports Hall of Fame coach Don Skakle, who further emphasized team-oriented thinking in tennis. Corn thrived at UNC and is considered one of the Tar Heels most accomplished tennis players. He garnered All-ACC honors four times, set a school record for wins during his career, and won two ACC doubles championship titles. He remains the only player in ACC history to win four individual singles championships at his position. To recognize his successful collegiate career, a court was named for him at the UNC Cone/Kenfield Tennis Center. In 2009, Corn was inducted into the North Carolina Tennis Foundation Hall of Fame.

After graduating from UNC, Corn joined the satellite tennis circuit in Florida, gaining professional experience until an arm injury cut his competitive playing career short. Transitioning into coaching, he became an assistant pro at the Raleigh (N.C.) Racquet Club, where he discovered his passion for teaching tennis. “I became a pro myself, a teaching pro,” he joked. Corn later became the director of tennis at a country club in Virginia and even started his own tennis clothing company.

Returning to Shelby, Corn worked for his father’s concrete business, whose products were used in the foundations of many of the Gardner-Webb buildings, including the Dover Campus Center, and the Lutz-Yelton Convocation Center. Growing up, his father even took him to the University’s basketball games. “I have roots here,” he said.

In 2001, he joined Gardner-Webb’s development office, but months later, he was asked to serve as Bulldog Club Director because of his background in athletics. While serving as director, Corn was drawn back to the courts to volunteer his time and offer coaching assistance to the Gardner-Webb tennis teams. When the tennis program transitioned to Division I, the men’s and women’s teams needed separate head coaches, and Corn was offered the position as Gardner-Webb’s women’s head tennis coach. “It’s the way I could give back to the sport,” he said.

Corn instructs his players to view their opponents as competitors rather than enemies, fostering a mindset that extends beyond matches to how they interact in their personal lives. “We’re all people,” Corn stated. “Relationships matter … in many ways we’re all the same.”

He learns from his student-athletes and tailors his teaching to enhance their skills, customizing his coaching to each player’s individual strengths and abilities. “There’s no reason to try to make the girl who can’t hit a big hard serve to try to get a big hard serve … She’s fast. She’s got quickness … That’s what makes it fun,” he emphasized.

Corn’s 2023 women’s tennis team averaged a 3.86 GPA, reflecting his commitment to their academic and athletic success. Even when his athletes play their last collegiate match, Corn’s impact continues past graduation. He maintains and fosters long-lasting relationships with his players, including those from his first team at Gardner- Webb. The players also keep in touch with each other. “There’s something you can’t buy,” Corn noted. When one of his early players, Laura Kriett, got married, seven out of nine girls on the team attended her wedding a decade later.

His journey with Gardner-Webb reflects his deep ties and enduring dedication to the University and its students. “It is amazing what we have become in the last 20 to 25 years because I knew Gardner-Webb when it was a junior college (during my youth),” Corn reflected. “And I’ve seen it grow … but I think the best is still yet to come.”

Avery Copeland, of Atlanta, Ga., is a senior majoring in English.