It's love-all for former coach It's love-all for former coach (March 24, 2000)

Amador High School dedicates tennis courts to Don Anger

by Stephanie Ericson

For many years, social studies teacher Don Anger riding his balloon-tired bicycle to Amador Valley High School was a familiar sight.

But those who knew him best were the students on Amador's tennis team during his many years of coaching at the school.

"Under his tenure, the team was considered one of the best in the area," recalled Cyril Bonanno, a former principal at Amador. "As coach, he had a quiet unassuming competitive edge. He always wanted to be No. 1 and encouraged students to reach that goal."

In tribute to the former coach and teacher, Amador Valley High named its tennis courts after Anger in a dedication ceremony Wednesday, March 22. Anger taught at Amador from 1962 until his retirement in 1994. He also headed the social studies department for 24 years.

The dedication, however, honored more than Anger's coaching skills, which he also applied to girls basketball for four years during the 1980s. Bonanno said Anger approached teaching the same way he coached.

"He was extremely conscientious and always demanded excellence of his students, inside the classroom and out," Bonanno said.

Anger, who was joined by his wife, No‘l, and two grown children, Matt and Jenny, at the ceremony, said he is honored by the dedication.

"Considering I'm clearly almost over the hill at 64, I appreciate the thought," Anger said. "I took a lot of pride in the efforts we made... and it's very nice to have that recognized."

As department head, Anger helped establish and support the civics program, "We the People... the Citizen and the Constitution," at Amador. Teams from the school have successfully competed in state competitions in recent years and won one national championship.

Anger helped coach the civics teams, including bringing in people to critique the students, said Bonanno. Since retirement, Anger continues to coach the civics students as they train for competitions, and he also judges at the regional level.

Anger gave up playing tennis after he had open heart surgery in 1994. He keeps fit by taking bicycle rides with his wife and working out on a treadmill.

Anger's passion for tennis has been passed down to his son, Matt Anger, who has excelled in competitions nationally and internationally, including a Junior Wimbledon championship.

Don Anger ended his own serious involvement in competitive tennis in 1971, but in 1992, he and Matt ranked fifth in a national father-and-son doubles competition. Matt now coaches tennis at the University of Washington in Seattle.

A former Amador student himself, Matt was one of those who suggested naming the tennis courts after his father. The idea was quickly deemed "very appropriate" by the school, said Rick Sira, vice principal for student activities.

"I think of the sheer number of students he touched over the years, and every one of them took something of him with them," explained Sira. "He was a top notch person, a great role model and a teacher of life." <@$p>