Tony Brissette, the Wachusett Regional High School boys’ tennis coach who dedicated an incredible 27 years to the game, stepped away from the sidelines at the end of last season, but his toughest match yet is now playing out, far beyond the court. He retired unannounced and unplanned, realizing mid-season last spring that the energy he once had wasn’t there, stating simply, “It’s not fair to the kids, so I told myself I was going to call it quits this year.”
The Courtside Legend Walks Away
Tony Brissette didn’t plan his retirement, something he shares with the legendary UCLA basketball coach John Wooden. After 27 years, establishing himself among Massachusetts’ elite high school tennis coaches, he knew it was time. He left behind an incredible legacy, notching his 200th coaching win in 2014 when his team beat Fitchburg 5-0. Brissette’s teams went on to win another 113 matches before his final season. That last year was a rollercoaster, with his team making it all the way to the Division 1 state tournament, rallying for a huge 3-2 victory over Cambridge Rindge & Latin in the first round before eventually falling 5-0 to top-seeded Lexington, finishing the season at 9-9. Even in a region not known as a tennis hotbed like MetroWest or Boston, Brissette consistently fielded competitive teams, often going up against powerhouses like Westborough, Algonquin, and Shrewsbury.
A New Opponent, A Surprising Strategy
What many didn’t know was that while he was still coaching, Brissette had been battling kidney cancer for about three years. That fight went into remission after treatment and surgery, but now he’s been hit with an even tougher challenge: a rare, serious case of adrenal gland cancer. He’s already undergone radiation, but the decisions ahead are brutal. He could choose surgery, which would mean being on hormones and steroids for the rest of his life. Or, he could opt for a clinical trial with treatments known to induce anemia and fatigue. But here’s the kicker: Brissette, at 77, told his wife, Paula, “I feel great, and I’d hate to go into a clinical trial and start feeling all these side effects, and I end up dying anyway, and enjoying my last three or four months on Earth playing tennis or whatever.” He’s “giving serious thought to just letting it go and seeing what happens,” putting his trust in his faith.
Still On The Court
Remarkably, despite everything, Brissette is trim and fit. He looks good, works out, and is still out there playing tennis, actively working on his game. His coaching style, focused on tactics, strategy, motivation, fitness, and sportsmanship, always showed his quiet, steely authority. He wasn’t a yeller, but he was firm, even once defaulting one of his own singles players for throwing his racket. It’s that same unwavering spirit and tactical approach that he’s bringing to his most personal battle. He’s choosing his path, on his terms, just like he always coached.
This is Brissette’s biggest stand yet. While his days on the high school bench are over, his personal court time continues. He’s facing down a formidable foe, but with his clear-eyed perspective and unwavering love for the game, you can bet he’s still playing to win, whatever that means for him.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
Leave a Reply