With the recent press given to the Billiken soccer program, new arena and the political opinions of the head men’s basketball coach, it seems that little attention remains for the other dozen Division I sports at Saint Louis University, including tennis. Yet, for the last seven years, men’s and women’s tennis coach Jon Zych has been drawing upon his lifetime of inspirational experiences to quietly lead the Billiken tennis teams.
Zych spent his early years in Hong Kong, where his father worked for an international corporation, until he returned to Peoria, Ill., at the age of 4. His love of tennis began one year later, when he spent entire summers at a local tennis club playing with people of all ages and watching some of Peoria’s local tennis characters.
“I just want to do that same thing-have fun at practice-but also improve and keep coming back,” said Zych.
Zych said he found inspiration to play the game not only from his immediate success on the court but also from the positive attitude he found in some of his first coaches. These attitudes, coupled with his own talent, helped elevate Zych into the top 100 U.S. junior players.
With the support of his parents, Zych traveled across the country to play in tournaments with arguably the greatest generation of American tennis players, including Andre Agassi, Michael Chang and Pete Sampras.
When describing competitive-level junior tennis, Zych characterized it as “very, very intense, but exciting to be out there and see myself improving.”
Zych’s improvement was in the fast lane until a life-threatening injury forced him to miss his last two years of high school and red shirt his freshman year at the University of Illinois. He underwent lower back spinal fusion surgery.
“The injury turned out to be a huge blessing,” Zych said. “I was getting too big of an ego and when I came back I had a greater appreciation for the game.”
Not only did Zych come back to play a successful collegiate career, but he helped lead a developing and transitional U of I program toward NCAA championship success.
After graduating with a marketing degree in 1994, Zych tried his hand, and arm, at professional tennis before returning to Peoria to teach at a local tennis club. He said that he enjoyed several “happy years” coaching in Peoria, but it wasn’t until a former student suggested he interview for an open coaching position at SLU that he considered coaching at the collegiate level.
Inspired by the dedication of a sophomore player, Lance Vodicka, whom he met while waiting in the office for the interview, Zych decided to bring his “appreciation for every moment and for the game of tennis” to SLU in 2001.
Over the last seven years, Zych has developed a team that has emerged as a consistent force within the conference. When asked why he enjoys coaching at SLU, Zych said, “I really believe in SLU’s Jesuit mission of teaching the whole person, and I’m not just saying that. I value how lucky I am to be a part of so many people’s lives, and I think that if I was a billionaire and had all the money in the world, I’d still be doing this.”
SLU tennis player Adam Reeb confirmed Zych’s inspiring words.
“Coach Zych has an incredible knowledge of the game, and he brings his passion and intensity for the sport into every practice and match,” Reeb said. “He truly cares for his players, and he strives to get the best out of us every day. He is a great guy to play for.”
Although the men’s and women’s teams face tough schedules this season, Zych said he should have little trouble keeping his “hungry and competitive” players motivated. He emphasizes finding opportunities in adversity and renewing personal drive through his trust with his players.
While Billiken tennis may never receive the same high-profile attention that other SLU sports enjoy, the team has a coach who is dedicated to his players and the University’s mission.
“I try to have an open mind, have fun and just keep learning,” Zych said.
