NDCL coach reaches 800 career victories

The longer Harvey Schrager continues to coach, the more impressive his career accomplishments.

In 2015, the longtime high school tennis coach of the east and west sides of Cleveland earned his 700th career victory.

On Aug. 18, Schrager notched No. 800 when the NDCL girls tennis team defeated CVCA.

“I have a saying for every team I coach: ‘Whatever’s best for the team,’ ” said Schrager. “That’s how I coach. That’s how you get to 800 wins, whatever it takes for the team. I don’t set goals like (career victories). You have to make it about the kids, not the coach.”

Still, 800 career victories is impressive for any coach in any sport. Schrager says he is now in the top 10 all-time in Ohio among tennis coaches. Al Slawson of Shaker Heights is No. 1, according to Schrager, with more then 1,000 victories.

Schrager is a retired teacher at North Olmsted High School, where he spent 39 years. He took over as tennis coach there in 1982.

The Mayfield Heights resident substitute teaches on occasion at NDCL and in the Willoughby-Eastlake school district but most of his free time now is devoted to the Lions’ tennis program, which received a boost from two promising freshmen — the Lions’ No. 1 at singles Elena Fleming and No. 2 singles Lucy Paulin. Each is highly ranked — Fleming nationwide and Paulin in Ohio.

As for his 800th win, Schrager and his team enjoyed the milestone after the CVCA match but as is always the case with the longtime coach, he made it more about the team than him.

“It’s enjoyable, otherwise I wouldn’t be doing it,” said Schrager, who’s been the coach for more than 1,000 tennis matches. “I still have fun coaching tennis. It keeps me young, and it does motivate every day. It gives you a purpose. How many 65-plus year-olds can say that? And I think the kids and parents appreciate it.”

He also has no intentions of slowing down past this season: “As long as I’m healthy and able to do it, I’ll keep going.”

Highlights of Schrager’s coaching career that began in 1974 include helping Laurel’s Kendall Swenson to the Division II singles state championship in 2003, and coaching his daughter Becky in high school. She was a four-time state qualifier and played tennis at the University of Akron.

Other coaching stints include ones as an eighthgrade and junior varsity boys basketball coach. Schrager was a longtime boys basketball referee but has since given that up. On occasion, he referees high school volleyball matches.