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Portrait of Minneapolis Roosevelt High School Teddy Tennis head coach Blake Benzel. On the right is a graphic with block letters: Welcome Boys Tennis Head Coach Blake Benzel.

Teddy Boys Tennis Announce New Coach

By Minneapolis Roosevelt Athletics, 01/14/25, 1:15PM CST

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Roosevelt Boys Tennis

Blake Benzel Takes Over Roosevelt Boys Tennis Program
 

MINNEAPOLIS, MN - The Minneapolis Roosevelt Boys Tennis Program has a new head coach. We are thrilled to have Blake Benzel join the Teddy Nation as we are confident in his ability to shape our program into a culture of pride and success.

More about Blake:

Bio
Blake grew up in Kearney, Nebraska, where he played tennis, baseball, and basketball for Kearney Catholic High School. He was a four year letter winner on the tennis team, as well as the captain of the team beginning in his sophomore year. His junior year he qualified for Nationals, finishing one win away from being named an All-American. He continued his tennis career at the University of St. Thomas, before injuries derailed his career following his freshman season.

He graduated from St. Thomas with a degree in History, and has spent the last two seasons as the Head Junior Varsity coach for the Girls’ Tennis program at Highland Park High School.

Away from the courts, he enjoys spending time with his family, playing the bass guitar, and playing tabletop games with his friends and family. Blake lives in Burnsville with his wife Jessi, their daughters Lucy and River, and sons Josiah, Caleb and Noah.

How Does it Feel to be Coached By You?
Three things are the most important, for the players and coaches alike. To treat everyone with kindness and respect, to work hard, and to have fun. Everyone should feel welcomed and respected as a member of this program, from the players to their families, and no one should be belittled, or made to feel less than, or that they don’t belong. The goal is to build a culture of accountability, hard work, and acceptance that everyone involved can be proud of, and a culture that the students, and their families want to be a part of.

How Do You Define Success?
Success is defined by more than just wins and losses. A successful program is defined by growth, accountability, hard work, and fun. By placing an emphasis on player growth, both on and off the court, holding players accountable for their performance on the courts, in the classroom and away from the school, and instilling a strong work ethic, we can create a fun environment for the players to come to each and every day. In doing this, we can build a successful program and a successful culture that everyone can be proud to be a part of.