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Kypriss Continues Tennis Dynasty at Miami State Champ Dr. Krop High
Posted on March 8, 2008
By Gary Shepherd
Many high school coaches look forward to that one year when they can assemble a solid line-up to compete for regional- or state-level glory. But in talent-rich South Florida at Miami-Dade Dr. Krop High School, head coach Michael Kypriss frequently finds himself with enough talent to field three teams each on his boys and girls squads.
"We're blessed," says Kypriss of his deep talent pool.
About 75 kids tried out for Krop's boys and girls teams this year. Krop High maintains 'A,' 'B,' and 'C' teams, which each play just a handful of regular season matches.
The system works. Krop won both boys and girls Class 4-A state tennis championships in 2007. Five of seven 'A' boys returned this year, including No. 1 junior Billy Federhofer, a two-hands-on-both-sides scrapper heavily recruited by big colleges. Last year�s No. 1, Ryan Kim, now plays at Princeton.
Three of Krop's five 'A' girls returned, including captain and senior Taylor Dubins and sister Brittany Dubins, a multi-sport sophomore. Their dad, Ross Dubins, personifies another key to Kypriss' success: cooperative area teaching pros.
Dubins is director at San Souci Tennis Center where he coaches Federhofer and previously coached Kim. Diego Dominguez, Director of Extreme Tennis Academy at local Michael-Ann Russell Jewish Community Center, coaches Krop No. 2 Gino Ramirez.
Kypriss, in his 27th year of coaching, advises, "You have to make sure the pro who is developing the kids sends them to your school."
Kypriss also praises Damon Halback, Krop High's "instrumental" assistant coach and -- as of 2007 -- girl's tennis coach.
Kypriss didn't get into tennis until after an injury (rotator cuff) ended his quarterback days at the University of Kentucky. He returned to Miami-Dade to complete college while teaching and assistant coaching high school football.
Kypriss has been at Dr. Krop since 1998, and previously coached tennis at Miami Killian High. After he took over Killian's tennis team, which played at nearby Montana Tennis Club, Kypriss assisted at the club, learning from area legend Francisco Montana. Montana and a handful of other pros sent kids to Killian, the school prospered, and the rest is history.
Prior to 2008, Kypriss' two high school tennis teams had a combined 995-35 record -- eight state championships at Killian and four more at Krop.
"We're lucky to have someone of Mike's ability," says John MacDonald, USTA Florida school league coordinator. "He's quite an asset to the Miami-Dade area and Florida tennis in general."
Kelly Mulligan is the 20-year coach at Miami competitor Gulliver Preparatory School.
"He's highly energetic, a great motivator, a true lover of the game," Mulligan said. "Mike brings the best out in his players."
A teacher of geography and American history at Krop, Kypriss is a Professional Tennis Registry-certified pro, a USTA High Performance coach, a Florida High School Tennis Coaches Association officer, and former FHSTCA Coach of the Year. The 2006 National High School Coach of the Year, Kypriss also runs a 65-player tennis academy at Presidential County Club.
A big part of Kypriss' success has also been passing on his pyramid of values to his players.
"Faith, family, academics, tennis, and social life," Kypriss said. "We tell our kids if their social life supercedes any other one of those, we've got a problem."
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