Lawrence Eyre, USPTA Pro 1 since 1992, is the 2009 USPTA National High School Coach of the Year.

Lawrence serves as tennis coach and social studies department chairman at Maharishi School in Fairfield, Iowa. He is also summer tennis director at Camp Laurel South in Casco, Maine.

Lawrence holds a bachelor's degree from Yale University and a master's from Yale Divinity School and Luther Seminary. He was named the USPTA Missouri Valley Division Coach of the Year in 1993 and Iowa Tennis Association Coach of the Year in 2000. He served as USTA Iowa District adult league head verifier from 1998-2002 and is also a USTA-certified umpire, Intercollegiate Tennis Association certified umpire and a Wilson advisory staff member.

Lawrence first took beginner tennis lessons through a public parks instructional program in Moline, Ill., at the age of 11. Within two years, and while attending a clinic given by USPTA member Don Klotz, University of Iowa's tennis coach, Lawrence knew tennis would become his favorite sport. He became Quad-City champion in singles and doubles, and a two-time state qualifier in Illinois high school tournament play. He lettered in tennis his freshman year at Yale, where he attended on an academic scholarship.

"I began teaching tennis literally the day after I graduated from high school in 1966," Lawrence said. "I headed up the Moline, Ill., parks instruction program, which had been dormant for five years. Since then, I have taught more than 15,000 people how to play tennis - in parks and YMCA programs, clubs, schools and summer camps. I have taught in Illinois, Minnesota, Virginia, Maryland, Maine and Iowa. I became a teaching pro because I deeply enjoy both tennis and teaching. It's that simple."

"It's gratifying to see people of all ages grow in enjoyment and confidence as I help them gain new skills. I especially enjoy starting young beginners, then teaching and coaching them throughout their school years - it is a delight to be part of their ongoing progress. Many of the players I've taught have gone on to play college tennis, at levels ranging from Division III to full-scholarship Division I. A number of my former students have also become tennis- teaching professionals themselves, completing the circle that began with the lessons I taught them in elementary school."

In 1999 and 2000, the Maharishi School boys' tennis team captured consecutive "triple crowns," sweeping the Iowa I-A state championships in singles, doubles and team tennis. In more than 75 years of Iowa tennis, no other high school has duplicated that feat.

Lawrence has been featured in Sports Illustrated's "Faces in the Crowd" section and in Tennis magazine.

He has been married to his wife, Laurie, since 1982. "She is a wonderful partner in mixed doubles and in life," he says. Laurie is the head girls' tennis coach at Maharishi School. One of her players won the state singles title in 2002.

Lawrence gave up competitive tennis after his freshman year at Yale to devote more time and energy to singing. "My decision was rewarded when I was chosen for the Whiffenpoofs, a century-old group whose recordings, tours, reunion concerts and ongoing friendships over the years have been richly fulfilling," he says.