This spring there are two new faces in the athletic department who are also familiar faces in the classrooms.

History Teacher Kevin Chalk and Business Teacher Christopher Scannell both began teaching at John Carroll in the fall and are now head coaches of spring sports teams.

Mr. Chalk is the new head coach of the boys tennis team and was the assistant coach of the girls team in the fall. He previously coached tennis at JC from 2018 to 2020 and spent the last few years at NDP before returning to JC this past fall.

Upon coming to JC, he changed subjects from English to history. Now, Mr. Chalk teaches sophomore and junior history classes. Mr. Chalk’s favorite part of teaching at JC is the students. “The students here are really down to earth. They are good workers, interested, and very relatable.”

Mr. Chalk recognizes that tennis is not the most popular sport in this area, but this is what he loves about coaching: being able to see the players learn more about the sport.

Mr. Chalk said, “It’s cool seeing them progress in real time. When you are on the court, you can really see that progress quickly.”

Being both a coach and a teacher at the same school is something special that several of the coaches do not get to experience. Mr. Chalk said that the best part of being a coach and a teacher at JC is “seeing students in different environments; some students are very quiet in the classroom. Then you get them out on the court, and you see a different side of them.”

Mr. Scannell also said that teaching and coaching at the same school allows someone to build a special relationship with the students. “The best part is getting to see students in different settings and watching them develop in multiple aspects of their lives.”

Mr. Scannell said, “Some of the students I coach may not have me as a teacher and vice versa, but being present in both roles allows me to mentor and support them beyond one area of school life.”

Mr. Scannell is new to teaching and coaching this school year, but he is excited to see what his first season brings. “I’m most looking forward to seeing how our team grows and comes together. Watching players develop their skills, build chemistry, and push themselves to new levels is always exciting. Most importantly, I can’t wait to help my athletes grow not just in their sport, but as leaders and teammates.”