Columnist Dean Juipe: Sampras’ first tutor a UNLV gem

Dean Juipe

Tuesday, July 11, 2000 | 9:53 a.m.

Dean Juipe's column appears Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday. His boxing notebook appears Thursday. Reach him at juipe@lasvegassun.com or 259-4084.

The greatest tennis player of all time had to start somewhere, and Pete Sampras got his start at the Jack Kramer Tennis Academy in Southern California. He was 9 years old.

For the next six years, his primary instructor was a man who initially greeted him at Kramer's facility and who later made time for him on the courts at Long Beach State University. Through those formative years, Sampras took his cues from Larry Easley.

It's a relationship that Easley -- if he wasn't naturally humble and fairly reserved -- would be within his rights to crow about. After all, he put Sampras on a path toward a record 13 Grand Slam titles, including a seventh at Wimbledon over the weekend.

"I like to keep a low profile," Easley said Monday. "I was his first coach and I had him exclusively for two or three years, but so many people like to take credit for Pete's success that I try to stay out of it."

Easley, who has been the men's coach at UNLV since 1992 and is the school's director of tennis, is a gem. He is a gifted coach and a priceless educator who has left his mark on countless men and women, 10 of whom currently play professional tennis.

He could gloat about his role with Sampras, if he were inclined.

"Let's just say I had a strong influence on his career," Easley said. "I made sure he learned how to play the game, but I do that with all my kids. "

While it would be easy picturing a youthful Sampras dominating his peers even as a beginner, Easley said it didn't happen that way.

"He was a tiny, little guy who didn't have his growth spurt until he was 16," Easley said. "He was a gangly kid when he was young, but, for sure, he had an unusual athletic ability even at 9 years old. He may have been a late bloomer, but his athletic ability definitely stood out at an early age."

Sampras evolved into the player he is today, in part at least, by assimilating the habits and practices Easley was preaching.

Now 28, Sampras has surpassed Roy Emerson's record of 12 Grand Slam titles and, as a result, has earned the right to be proclaimed as the best player in history. Yet Easley isn't beating his chest or going out of his way to take the credit he almost certainly deserves.

"I've had a lot of success in my life and I know these pro players have so many people coming at them with their hands out," he said. "I don't try to bother Pete and I don't ask for anything from my former players."

He says he usually sees Sampras once a year, as was the case last year at the U.S. Open.

"I walked into the players' lounge and heard someone calling my name," Easley said. "It took me awhile to see him, but Pete was underneath a palm tree that's there in the lounge and he asked me if I could get him a practice court. He can't go anywhere without being mobbed, so he had me sign for a court for him."

Easley, of course, complied.

Sampras, it can be presumed, thanked him and moved on.

Perhaps when the finest tennis player of all time gets a few minutes he'll reflect on his past and make contact with his first tutor.

Both merit congratulations, Sampras for his achievements and Easley for fulfilling the role of caring, unrequited instructor who treats each of his pupils as the next Pete Sampras.