John Hernandez has been busy this fall coaching the Ames girls’ tennis squad to a 7-6 record heading into Wednesday’s match against Johnston in the semifinals of a Class 2A regional team tournament.
In the spring, Hernandez will take on some additional coaching duties. He has been hired to coach the Ankeny boys’ program.
Hernandez replaces Ron Miller, who retired last spring after coaching the Hawks for six years.
“I have taken the game more seriously later in life, I am a student of the game, and I enjoy teaching the sport as well as coaching players to push themselves to new levels of effort and, hopefully, success,” said Hernandez. “I am all tennis all the time now.”
Hernandez coached the Ames boys’ team for a few years before transitioning to the girls’ squad in 2024. He guided doubles teams to state in 2021, 2022 and again in 2024 after switching to the girls.
“I am a lifelong player, but have only been a coach for the last 10 years,” Hernandez said. “I strive to build a championship culture in which players are rewarded with opportunities for success if they bring a good fundamental game, a willingness to improve, and a passion for the game.”
Hernandez serves as a coach at Harvest Tennis in Ames. He is also the racquet stringer for the Iowa State women’s team.
“I have been fortunate to be able to help a number of players move on to the college level, including Hayden Sinclair, who played for me at Ames,” Hernandez said. “He just won an American Rivers Conference doubles title over the weekend.”
Hernandez will take over an Ankeny program that sent at least one player to state in each of the last three seasons under Miller. Dylan Victor qualified for the Class 2A singles tournament in 2024, Victor and Garrett Weichers advanced in doubles a year ago, and Weichers was a singles qualifier last spring.
“I’m excited to coach Garrett in his senior season,” Hernandez said. “I’ve seen him play some at the fall league. He’ll be the top player again this coming season.”