Unmatched Legacy

Credit: Star Tribune

Few coaching careers in Minnesota high school sports can match what Steve Paulsen accomplished on the tennis court. Over the course of his 28 years coaching the Edina High School girls’ tennis team, Paulsen created a dynasty — leading the program to 23 state titles, 19 of them consecutive. Paulsen retired from coaching high school tennis in 2019, but he continues to be an active member of the community in Minnesota, currently serving as the Director of Racquet Sports at Interlachen Country Club. We caught up with the Minnesota State High School Coaches Association Hall of Famer to discuss his tenure at Edina and what he’s been up to in his retirement.

When did you first get started in tennis?

I was a late bloomer by today's standard, I picked it up probably at age 13 or 14. I was playing a fair amount of tennis at my grandparents' house in Wisconsin with wooden racquets and metal nets and blacktop courts, playing with my sister there. I got pretty decent. At the time I was playing on the golf team, and I went out for the high school tennis team as a ninth grader and I made the team. I played four years for Northfield and then I went to St. Olaf for four years and played there. 

You coached the Edina Girls’ Tennis Team for 28 years. How did you get started there and what was your most memorable team or season? 

In high school, in fact the very first year I played, we had a very good team. We ended up playing Edina in the State Tournament, and my doubles partner and I were up 5 to 1 in the third set, but ended up losing to Edina and we lost the State Tournament — and that was a match I will never forget. For my first five years I coached the Edina boys’ team, but in 1992 the girls’ team coach quit a week or two into the season, and they approached me and asked if I wanted to coach girls’ as well.

Each season, of course, is unique and good in its own way. In the early 2000s, I had a team that had six Division I players, so that was probably the best team I had. 

What was the most rewarding part of your tenure as coach? 

Certainly seeing kids improve — putting their heart and soul into Edina tennis and the culture that we created — was very rewarding to me. I got to know some of the kids very well, and I know a lot of them now, so seeing them mature and grow as adults into the world is pretty cool. A lot of them will come back and say hi, and it’s fun to see. 

What have you been up to since retiring from coaching high school tennis? 

I've always played a lot of sports. I play a fair amount of golf and I play a lot of pickleball now. And then my wife and I are starting to travel a lot more and that's certainly a passion of mine — trying to get out and see the world a little bit.

How long have you been shopping at Michael Lynne’s and what keeps you coming back? 

I can't tell you the year. It's been a long time, from racquet strings to everything else. Mike and Mimzy have just bent over backwards to help us with whatever we need at Interlachen. The whole staff at Michael Lynne’s, they’re very knowledgeable. I send people there because I’m confident they’ll treat them right.