LOCAL

Beloved Honesdale tennis coach Keith Andrews announces his retirement

Kevin Edwards
Tri-County Independent
Honesdale's own Keith Andrews was named United States Tennis Association Middle States Eastern PA Coach of the Year in 2021. He's now announced his retirement.

HONESDALE — Over the course of the past few years, Keith Andrews has become the face of tennis in Wayne County.

A battle-tested coach with decades of experience under his belt, Andrews took over the Honesdale varsity teams in 2018. And it didn’t take long for him to inject new life into a Hornet program that desperately needed it.

His enthusiasm was undeniably contagious, attracting an impressive number of new players at both the junior high and varsity levels. Andrews also developed a popular intramural program and built a tireless fundraising group.

Athletic Director Diane Scarfalloto played a key role in bringing Andrews into the fold. A former star athlete and coach at Honesdale, she knew immediately that he’d be a perfect fit for the struggling tennis program.

“Keith revitalized tennis in our area,” Diane said. “He made people aware of the game and the enjoyment it can bring for a lifetime. Keith put his heart and soul into making kids understand that tennis is a viable sport for them to pursue.”

Sadly, at the conclusion of the Spring season, Andrews announced that he was retiring from coaching effective immediately.

“I will cherish the memories and the time spent working with the student-athletes,” Keith said. “I am proud of their willingness to buy into the team concept and put their trust in me as their coach. Our collaboration resulted in resurrecting and creating a formidable tennis program.”

While Scarfalloto has seen many coaches come and go through the years, losing Andrews is a blow not just to the tennis program but to the entire coaching fraternity.

“Keith’s ability to break down tennis skills and teach kids the game is masterful,” Diane said. “He is right up there with my best coaches … the kind of coach who breathes his love of a game into the youth of our community.

“Keith’s passion, dedication and knowledge will be definitely be missed!”

New beginnings

Honesdale boys and girls tennis coach Keith Andrews has announced his retirement after having a huge impact on the Hornet program.

When Andrews arrived on the scene, Honesdale’s varsity tennis program had been struggling for some time.

While both the boys and girls had enjoyed some success over the years, dwindling player numbers and frequent turnover in the coaching staff precluded any kind of sustained improvement.

That all changed when the school board voted to hire Andrews in the Spring of 2018. He came to the Hornets with a decades-long resume of coaching high school tennis in both Pennsylvania and New Jersey.

Wayne Highlands Superintendent Greg Frigoletto vividly remembers how impressed he was with Andrews the first time they met.

“I couldn’t believe how fortunate we were to be interviewing a man with his tremendous background and experience,” Frigoletto said. “It was so evident just listening to him talk that he was the right man to lead the Honesdale tennis program.”

It wasn’t long after his hire that Andrews expanded his involvement on the local tennis program. He took over both the boys and girls varsity squads, re-energized a dormant intramural program, organized a summer day camp for kids and oversaw an annual car show fundraiser.

Meanwhile, Honesdale teams began turning heads in both the Lackawanna League and District 2. The Hornets steadily climbed in the standings, transforming from perennial pretender to consistent contender.

The highlight of Andrews’ tenure came in the Spring of 2021 when he led the boys to a 10-3 regular season record and a berth in the Class AA tournament. Sadly for local fans, the Red & Black were eliminated by Wyoming Seminary in the quarterfinals.

“I think we served notice, not only to the league and but to the district as well, that Honesdale was no longer an easy win,” Keith said. “Instead, we were a championship quality program and a force to be reckoned with.”

Coach of the Year

The indefatigable Coach Keith Andrews takes the microphone during a car show fundraiser for the Honesdale tennis teams.

Anyone encountering Andrews on the tennis court is immediately struck by his perfect blend of enthusiasm and professionalism.

His knowledge of tennis is nothing short of encyclopedic, his love of the game seemingly boundless. He enjoys working with kids of all ages and revels in introducing them to a sport they can play for the rest of their lives.

“Look at me,” Keith said with a twinkle in his eye during a summer camp session. “I’m an old guy and I’m still out here plugging away. Tennis is one of those rare sports you can enjoy pretty much your whole life.”

Andrews’ positive upbeat attitude is contagious. He’s competitive, as any varsity coach should be; but he’s also patient, level-headed and a steadfast advocate for good sportsmanship.

These are qualities that not only attract student-athletes to his program, but parents as well … parents like the Grossmans.

Ed and Amy have just finished shepherding two daughters through their Honesdale High School careers. Lydia and Mandy both played for Coach Andrews, an experience for which the Grossmans are genuinely grateful.

“From the moment Coach Andrews was hired to take over tennis at HHS, he has dedicated himself entirely to the program.” Amy said. “Most importantly, he’s helped to foster good sportsmanship and character in every one of his players.”

“Coach has worked very hard to make the tennis program one that the community can be proud of. He will be dearly missed by the parents and players alike.”

As it turned out, all of Andrews’ hard work and passionate dedication to the sport didn’t go unnoticed. In addition to all the local kudos he enjoyed, officials at the United States Tennis Association finally chimed in as well, naming him Middle States Coach of the Year for 2021.

“It’s such an honor,” Keith said at the time. “I’m humbled that they recognized me, but it’s also a tribute to all the great kids and parents I’ve worked with.”

As far as Frigoletto is concerned, the award was just one more bit of confirmation that Coach Andrews was the perfect man for the job at Honesdale.

“Keith isn’t just a student of the game, he’s a big fan of kids and just a natural teacher,” Greg said. “His dedication is unbelievable. Keith exudes positivity and it rubs off on his players and everyone involved in the tennis program.”

Next generation

Honesdale boys tennis coach Keith Andrews huddles up with his players during Lackawanna League action this spring.

Andrews has coached hundreds of boys and girls across the decades, instilling in them a love of the sport along with the value of hard work and the importance of sportsmanship.

Two of those student-athletes are Lydia Grossman and Shea Stanton, both of whom believe that Andrews has had an undeniably positive influence on their lives.

Grossman graduated from HHS in 2020 and now attends the University of Scranton where she is pursuing studies in English, Journalism/Electronic Media. She’s also continuing her athletic career as a member of the women’s tennis team.

“I met Coach Andrews when I was a sophomore in high school and I can confidently say he has been an amazing figure in my life,” Lydia said.

“He is an awesome human and has done so much for the community. Honesdale’s tennis program would not be where it is without Coach Andrews. I will always cherish the time he has dedicated to us all.”

Stanton graduated in 2018 and then headed off to Indiana University of Pennsylvania where he earned his undergraduate degree in Sports Management. He’s currently working in the athletic department at Washington & Jefferson College.

“Coach Andrews had an impact on all of us, on and off the court,” Shea said.

“Whether it was teaching us how to hold a forehand grip correctly or helping us teach younger generations about tennis, Coach always found a way to bring out the best in his players. He was also able to get you to smile or laugh at any given moment.

“What Coach taught all of us goes beyond the courts and his legacy as our coach will continue to reach generations.”

Honesdale boys tennis coach Keith Andrews celebrates Senior Day with his team. The veteran skipper has announced his retirement now that the spring season has ended.