Boys Tennis Team Welcomes New Coach

A familiar face on the Island tennis scene has stepped up to coach the boys tennis team at the regional high school.

Jock Cooperrider, MVRHS alum and a long time tennis professional on the Island, will coach the boys team this season. The announcement comes in the nick of time as the team was without a coach when the season officially began a few weeks ago. Nicole Macy had been the head coach since 2023 but stepped down after last season.

Mr. Cooperrider graduated from the regional high school in 2011 and was a standout player. He has been a teaching professional at Farm Neck for several years, working with kids and adults. He also works as the director of sales for Grand Slam Tennis Tours, a company that puts together travel packages for professional tennis players attending tournaments.

“It’s important to me that I have an opportunity to give back to some of these kids, especially with this new job and being able to see a lot of professional tennis,” said Mr. Cooperrider. “I’m really excited to see how we do and give it a go.”

Mr. Cooperrider’s job with Grand Slam Tennis Tours requires him to travel alongside his clients, sending him each year to Wimbledon, the French Open and Australian Open, among others. His latest trip was to the Indian Wells Open in California. He returned to the Vineyard last Monday, and started practice at the high school the next day.

MVRHS athletics director Mark McCarthy said he is excited to have Mr. Cooperrider on board.

“He’s an Island kid, he went through the program and has a lot of tennis experience,” said Mr. McCarthy. “We’re expecting a good season out of the boys tennis team.”

The boys are currently practicing and locking in their lineup before their first match on March 30. There are currently 15 players on the roster, said Mr. Cooperrider. He said he was impressed with the team from the get-go, and attributed the strength in part to year-round playing at Vineyard Family Tennis.

“It’s allowed the pipeline to stay super strong, and I think we’re going to be just as competitive as they were last year,” he said.

Last year’s team finished the regular season with a record of 15-1 and made it the Division 3 state semifinals.

Mr. Cooperrider said he hopes to work on mental preparation with the athletes and help them use their specific strengths to their advantage. He also hopes to lead by example, jumping in and play points with the team. That builds trust, in his ability as a tennis player himself, and now as their coach.

 

This article appears in March 27, 2026.