Legendary NC high school tennis coach Steve Spivey reaches 1,100-win milestone at Enloe

RALEIGH — Steve Spivey has practiced flexibility while coaching this spring more than any other season among four-plus decades. Spivey, who has coached at Enloe since the fall of 2013, reminded Friday’s observers of the Eagles’ dual-team match at Athens Drive how flexibility can take — and make — the cake.

Having four candles for four digits to mark Enloe’s fourth win this season (7-2 over the host Jaguars) offered “icing on the cake” befitting Spivey’s latest milestone — 1100 career dual-team match wins (among boys and girls).

Eagles junior William Chen’s No. 2 singles win secured Enloe’s team match-clinching fifth win among six singles flights. Friday’s setting sun offered a fitting golden tennis ball-like backdrop for a courtside cake and sports beverage reception prepared by Eagles student-athletes’ parents.

“It’s his perseverance and his passion for it that comes through with the kids,” said Abby Ross, mother of Enloe ninth grader Noah Ross. “His energy that he brings is really remarkable, and we’re really lucky.”

Spivey, 69, coached Enloe through Friday’s Cap Six 4A Conference match with the teaching passion — and flexibility — he exuded while in his twenties. Spivey, who taught Social Studies and Healthful Living/Physical Education as a Wake County Public School System (WCPSS) full-time educator, spent Friday’s school day substitute teaching Advanced Placement (AP) Calculus classes at Enloe.

After Friday’s match, Spivey, a Lee County High and UNC-Chapel Hill graduate, reflected upon a career that included 20 N.C. state championships (11 boys, nine girls) — all at nearby Broughton — before he led Myrtle Beach (SC) to a 2006 Palmetto State boys’ crown. Spivey, who has an 88 percent career winning clip, is ever mindful of, and grateful for, his nationally acclaimed Broughton teams. He coached, too, at Cary and Apex.

Spivey couldn’t stay away

Spivey affirms his greatest tennis delight to be the renaissance he has led in his career’s twilight. This post-retirement opportunity began when he made a less than five miles journey from Broughton to Enloe.

Spivey’s friends told him he was “crazy” when he took on leading the Eagles girls’ and boys’ teams. Spivey told them to give him five years.

In 2018, Spivey’s fifth spring leading the Enloe boys, the Eagles finished 20-0 and won the 4A dual-team state championship — a 22nd golden finish for the sport’s winningest coach. That team’s huddle-breaking chant was “No respect.”

“People don’t expect us to win at Enloe,” Spivey said. “That gives me momentum to work harder to make the guys better. You tell me I can’t do something. I’m going to go out and show you I can do it.”

Remaining flexible

Spivey’s match multi-tasking flexibility is well known through decades. Spivey, walking and talking in rhythm, can transition seamlessly from conversing with a coach or observer to exhorting one of his players to adjust their competitive strategies and tactics.

Spivey’s communications flexibility includes another essential dimension. The Eagles are without home courts while their Clarendon Crescent campus courts undergo renovations this spring.

“I have to tell them stuff during the matches,” Spivey said. “It’s very hard to do.”

Then, again, Spivey did just that. The coach — a teacher first and always — offered impromptu, action-oriented sports history lessons while pacing outside the six fenced in courts.

“Hit ‘em where they ain’t,” Spivey proclaimed, invoking the words of Major League Baseball Hall of Famer Willie Keeler.

Later, Spivey, frustrated by Enloe’s serving inconsistencies, retorted: “Michael Chang won the (1989) French Open with an underhand serve. You can do that.”

Courtside classroom

Eagles players found their ways to victories before retreating to Spivey’s courtside classroom. Andre Bautista, Enloe’s No. 1 seed, asked his coach about his lingering tennis elbow. Beyond icing and resting, Spivey advised Bautista, a junior, to include weight training among his 12th grade course schedule while infusing French, too. All these remedies, Spivey said, are “tres importante” (very important).

“He takes care of his players really well. He just pushes us for victories,” Bautista said. “I feel very proud that he’s our coach.”

Spivey’s communications flexibility transcends outcomes. The coach was there, too, to offer a grounding perspective to Eagles ninth grader Jon Ross who fell short in a third set tiebreaker at No. 5.

“He’s really encouraging. He has a lot of knowledge and experience from just so much time.,” Jon Ross said. “He really puts a lot of effort into getting to know all the players and just making a connection.”

With the match in hand, Spivey, still, was teaching during doubles.

“That ball is no good,” Spivey (an ACC tennis official) reminded an Eagles tandem after its miscue. “When it touches the post, it’s out.”

‘You’re here for the kids’

Spivey connects, too, with other teams’ players by offering kind words.

“It’s always appreciated,” Athens Drive coach Chris Davis said. “It shows sportsmanship, and that you’re here for the right reasons. You’re here for the kids.”

Beyond Friday, Davis recalled his initial encounter with Spivey when Davis coached at Corinth Holders in Johnston County. Corinth Holders, having been felled at Chapel Hill in the 3A state playoffs, stopped at Hardees in Chapel Hill. Spivey was there and greeted the Corinth Holders team.

“’That dude, he used to be at Broughton. He’s won the state championship. He was really nice,’” Davis said were his players’ words to him. “That was my first impression of him, was welcoming my guys. That kind of energy is infectious. It really is.”

Spivey’s communications flexibility includes subtle, courtside inquiries with Jaguars players confirming the team’s traveling schedule. Davis explained why, very simply, to his players.

“If we’re not here, they’re going to be here,” Davis said of Enloe practicing at Athens Drive. “I bet he knows my schedule better than I do.”

Spivey evoked a post-match smile from Jon Ross when he asked him to turn around and show others Enloe’s gold team shirts. The back of the shirt includes an acknowledgment of the Eagles’ 2018 state championship. While none of the current players were members of that team, they understand the past’s importance to the future — beginning with teaching and learning.

“Being part of a team, you’ve got to pull your weight in the classroom,” Spivey said. “You’ve got to be good in the community. Just do things that are good for humanity mostly.”

Spivey looks forward to teaching and playing on the school’s new courts next school year. Spivey, who can still compete in the team’s practice regimens, all the while teaching, reminisced about his five-year promise and its relationship to next year. His players, among whom is just one senior, noted that 2018 plus five equals 2023.

“I like the challenge. I just like to take teams and make them better,” Spivey said.

This story was originally published March 29, 2022 at 6:51 AM.