Letters and phone calls pour into the Orem home of BYU tennis coach Jim Osborne as his coaching career winds down to his last days and well-wishers deliver their thoughts.
He's only 58, an early age for retirement. But it's time, and what better backdrop for a finale than a successful Cougar season in which the MWC named him Coach of The Year.
Osborne doesn't like to talk about it, but a stroke just over four years ago resulted in a serious dissection of his carotid artery. It made those college road trips a little tougher although, as coach, those in the know say he's sprinting to the net in his final hours as a coach.
"I'm proud of him," wife Kimberly said.
Osborne still has game. He and his assistant, Brad Pearce, both played on tour and as a doubles pair or in drills, they hold their own against the young bucks. Osborne still gets up twice a week for 5 a.m. matches against WordPerfect co-founder Alan Ashton and former BYU coach Larry Hall.
His juices flow, and he's not going to turn his back on tennis when he stops coaching.
It's been more than three decades since Harry James brought Osborne from Hawaii to play tennis for the University of Utah. James literally took Osborne in, gave him a home away from home. Later as an assistant coach at Utah and then BYU, Osborne, a three-time Ute All-American, never forgot how James made him feel. If he ever got a chance to coach young men, he wanted to do the same.
Osborne did. With two daughters and Kimberly in his home, his players became the sons he never had.
"Class, just a lot of class in everything he does," is how BYU assistant coach and heir-apparent to the job Brad Pearce describes Osborne.
"He teaches players to win with grace and dignity and accept victory with humility." It's been a lifelong trait.
Osborne left the Utes for the professional tennis circuit in 1969 a path that took him to Wimbledon's Centre Court . He went against the likes of Arthur Ashe, Stan Smith, John Newcombe, Roy Emerson, Rod Laver, Ille Nastase and Jimmy Connors.
More than 35 years ago as a newlywed, Kimberly remembers on the east-coast pro circuit, newspaper reporters picked up a nickname for her new husband,
"They called him Gentleman Jim. Oh, I thought yeah, he's fair, he's a gentleman and he's nice. But I've thought it through the years and he has been a gentleman with me, our children, grandchildren, friends and players — he's always been that way." Pearce describes Osborne as a thinking-man's coach who leaves no detail unturned including graduation of his players. "I don't think he's ever had a guy not get his degree." Osborne, retired? Or is it just the next step to something else?
"He'll be involved," Kimberly said. "But it will be good for him to change gears and prepare for this next stage in his life. If it hadn't been for the stroke, he wouldn't be making this move right now because he loves coaching," He's a guy from the old school where hard work, sportsmanship, handshakes and playing within the lines count for something.
Osborne's coaching duties in Provo lasted 15 years. His impact touched many back court lines and many fences. Members at Fort Douglas Country Club where he served as head professional and instructor can lay claim to his legacy. And he began in the mainland as a dedicated loyal Ute.
"We've enjoyed it all. We were faithful Utes where Jim and I both went to school as did our two daughters and now we've really enjoyed the experience at BYU," Kimberly said.
Pearce agrees. "He's made a great model to follow. He's set a tremendous example to everyone he's been around and certainly that includes me," Pearce said. "He'll be tough to follow." Osborne, Gentleman Jim: Love, match, set and game.