Longtime Crookston Pirate Tennis coach Mike Geffre was inducted into the Minnesota State High School Tennis Coaches Association (MSHSTCA) Monday evening at the Earl Brown Heritage Center in Brooklyn Center during the State Boys Tennis Banquet.
Geffre has been the head coach of the Crookston Pirates Boys’ team since 1986 (31 years) and coach of the Girls’ team since 1989 (28 years).
As a graduate of Bemidji State University, graduating with honors, Mike has led the Pirates to the Minnesota State High School League State Tournament nine times with the girls and 13 times with the boys. Crookston has been a tennis dynasty in the northern part of the state during Mike’s tenure as coach. Coaches around the area always know that Crookston comes to play and play well.
Mike has also coached two State Doubles Champions for the boys and one State Doubles Champion for the girls. Other than all of the State Tournament appearances, one of Mike’s greatest highlights was having the opportunity to coach his daughter Amanda throughout her high school career.
Mike has a wife, Lori Schlenker; a daughter Amanda; and twin sons, Isaac and Simon.
Some of Mike’s former players attended the banquet and said the following about Coach Geffre.
“Coach Geffre was and is an amazing role model. While he was coaching us to be a great tennis team, he was modeling for us how to be selfless leaders and good adult men and women. Because of all we learned from Gef, I am so excited for him and the much-deserved Hall of Fame Honor he is receiving,” said Chris Tiedeman, Captain of the 1994 State Second Place team, and Player on 1993 State CHS Boys Tennis Teams.
“From the early 90s on, Gef developed teams that reached the pinnacles of High School tennis, rarely facing other public schools in State Competition,” said Chris Martin, Captain of the 1995 Tennis team and leader on the 1993, 94 and 95 State Tournament Teams. “Gef taught a rural northern Minnesota team how to win against some of the best Twin Cities and other Minnesota private schools.”
“Gef’s leadership developed a strong program in the 80s, becoming a dynasty through the 90s and 2000s. The tennis community across Minnesota recognizes Crookston as a program with a rich tradition and quality players,” said Jake Olson, a 1998 Crookston High School grad and two-time State Doubles Champion and four-time state tournament team participant starting in 1994 on the 2nd place team. Olson was also captain of the 1998 team.
Geffre’s Tennis Accolades:
Head Boys Tennis 1986-2017 – 31 years
Head Girls Tennis 1989 – 2018 – 29 years
13 Team Appearances at the Minnesota State High School League State Boys Tennis Tournament
9 Team Appearances at the Minnesota State High School League State Girls Tennis Tournament
2 – State Boys Doubles Championships
1 – State Girls Doubles Championship
Coaching Honors: Crookston E Award for Coaching Excellence, Minnesota State Boys’ Tennis Coach of the Year, Minnesota State Girls’ Tennis Coach of the Year
Organizations and Honors other than coaching: Fellowship of Christian Athletes, USTA member, Crookston Tennis Association Net Generation, Crookston Youth Basketball, FAB Foundation, ITEEA Coaches Association Involvement.
