A former Ankeny standout has been hired to take over the Ankeny Centennial boys’ tennis program.
Grant Menadue, a state doubles qualifier in 2013, will replace the late Tami Lewton–who passed away last June after a courageous five-month battle against cancer. Lewton coached the team for eight seasons.
“Coach Lewton was a very special coach and person that will be missed in the tennis community!” said Menadue. “I can not and will not ever be able to fill her shoes, and I have no intention to even attempt to. My coaching style and philosophy on life as a whole come down to building relationships and trust with those I interact with. I see my role as being in service to my athletes–not just helping them become better players, but better people.
“I prioritize building strong relationships based on trust, respect and open communication. My goal is to empower the guys to take ownership of their growth, both on and off the court. By putting their development first and modeling the behaviors I expect, I aim to build a cohesive team culture where everyone thrives together regardless of our win-loss record at the end of the season,” he added.
This is the first head coaching position for Menadue, but he has been coaching many summer camps and clinics for several years. He has also offered private lessons.
Menadue credits former Ankeny coaches Dennis Hoefle and Randy Daniels as well as Lewton for mentoring him along the way.
“I had the honor of coaching alongside those three, and I learned an unmeasurable amount of tennis and life lessons from them all,” Menadue said. “I will never live up to the impact they created on the community, but I hope to carry a bit of their legacy/teachings on to a new generation while creating my own mark on the program.”
Menadue said assistant coaches Warren Lofgren and Alex Isely have made the transition easier.
“Warren and Alex are helping coach this season, and we are beyond blessed to have them on the team,” Menadue said. “Warren has really helped bridge the gap and done a lot of extra leg work to help get things rolling and make sure our guys are set up for success this year. Alex has also been a phenomenal addition and brings an infectious energy to the courts that really motivates the guys and keeps things fun! I couldn’t do it without either of them, and Centennial tennis is very lucky to have both of them on the team!”
After graduating from Ankeny, Menadue played one season on the Grand View tennis team before focusing on his academics. He graduated with a bachelor’s degree in psychology and is currently completing a master’s degree in business administration.
“My day job is being the director of business development for a local company that staffs hospitals nationwide, but I continue to offer tennis lessons around the Des Moines area when my schedule allows,” Menadue said. “When I saw the opportunity to be a high school coach, I thought I would take a chance and see what panned out which leads us to today.”
The Jaguars posted a 4-9 record last year, including a 2-6 mark in the CIML Conference. Dustin Rhoads coached the team for most of the season in Lewton’s absence.
Now, Menadue is approaching the 2025 campaign with a clean slate. Centennial will open the season on Tuesday by hosting a non-conference meet against Norwalk.
“I am coming into this year with little knowledge of past seasons or player performance and am trying to look at the program and team as a whole through a fresh lens,” Menadue said. “I do know we have a couple of returning varsity players, but I know we lost a fair amount as well. I plan to curb all expectations for both new and returning players and let players’ skills and character lead all lineup decisions. The opportunities for playing time are wide open this season, and the players I see with potential, respecting others and putting in the work will get the nod for more playing time.”
Menadue likes what he has seen from his players in limited practice time thus far.
“When I took the position, there was a lot of unknowns,” he said. “But I can honestly say I am thrilled with what I have seen! I see a ton of potential for this team and the guys who make it up as I think there is an extraordinary amount of raw talent. I’m not sure we will be competing for a state title this year–though you never know–but I do think we will be more competitive than some may assume. The potential is endless, and I’m confident we will have a great season regardless of win percentages. My goal for this season is to grow as individuals, as a team, and keep our program competitive!”
Menadue graduated from Ankeny a few months before Centennial opened its doors in the fall of 2013. He’ll get his first taste of the Jag-Hawk rivalry on April 15 when the two teams collide at the Prairie Ridge courts.
“I’m very excited for the opportunity to coach in general, and the fact that it is my hometown where I played is a true blessing,” Menadue said. “Tennis has given me so much, and I am ecstatic to give back to the sport and a new generation of players. The coaches I had made a lifelong impact on me and helped shape the person that I am today. If I can provide a fraction of what they gave me to even one of my players, I will count it as a success.”