Marquette, MI – July 31th, 2025 – Kyle Saari played four years of varsity tennis for Negaunee High School. He then decided to stay local for college and began as an assistant coach for Negaunee tennis at the age of 17. “Since elementary school, I had the desire to teach and coach, and this was the first step before my education career officially began in 2010 in Negaunee,” Saari noted.
The community passed a millage that offered the program an eight-court tennis facility in 2014, including a coach’s office and storage. The program also made use of the new indoor practice facility. Saari emphasizes daily growth and development to reach long-term goals. “The most rewarding part is seeing the day-by-day growth,” Saari explained. He also supported the mental aspect, teaching players how to mentally balance the highs and lows of tennis.
Under his leadership, the boys’ tennis team has won 14 Mid-Peninsula conference titles and 8 Division 1 U.P. Championships. The girls’ team has been just as dominant during Saari’s tenure with seven conference titles and seven U.P. Championships.
Saari announced last night that he will step away from coaching girls’ tennis to begin a new chapter. Saari will exchange a tennis ball for a basketball this winter as he becomes the girls’ basketball assistant coach. Saari will continue to coach boys’ tennis in the spring.
