A 'Titan'-ic Celebration: Olympia tennis honors Coach Bubba James

On a sunny, slightly chilly day — by Florida standards — in early February, the Olympia High tennis team held its first home match of the season against Wekiva. 

While the action on the court was a big part of the day Monday, Feb. 7, the biggest moment came before the match started with a ceremony to honor former Titans head coach Harvey “Bubba” James, who passed away during the winter break at the age of 65. He spent nine seasons as the Titans’ head tennis coach. 

James’ sister, Carol Haderer, took over as head coach not long after he passed away — and right away proclaimed the season was dedicated to James and that it would be done “the Bubba way.”

What’s “the Bubba way”? 

It was easy to proclaim in the three sayings the Olympia tennis team wore on the back of the shirts players wore for the match against the Mustangs: “One point at a time” — take each match only one point at a time rather than the whole; “Power of the pen” — as James always used to say, “You never know when you need to change the lineup"; and “Nobody home” — something he’d say during a doubles match when a player hit the ball so well that no opponent was there to send it back.

Olympia Athletic Director Kevin McElveen was the first speaker of the afternoon. He shared the last conversation he had with James before he died and the memories he’d always carry with him. A couple of days before he died, McElveen was speaking with James about the upcoming season and the academic standing of an athlete he was concerned about. 

The small crowd gathered for the ceremony featured more than just the Olympia tennis team, coaches and parents, but also several other faculty and coaches within the Olympia community who showed up to pay their respects for James’ memory. 

There was a table with photos of James, which featured his water bottle and mask with “Coach Bubba” on it. 

After an emotional speech from Haderer came the moment that was only fitting for a day like this. The tennis courts, which had been completed less than two years ago, would bear James’ name as the Coach Bubba James Tennis Courts. It was appropriate because he had lobbied to get those tennis courts built for a number of years. 

Haderer said the day was more than she ever could have expected or hoped for. 

“The players, the parents, being at Olympia on their courts is the best feeling ever,” Haderer said. “I know that Bubba worked hard to make sure Olympia got their full courts, and they did. Them being dedicated with his banner as the entrance onto the court, it’s wonderful.” 

When the banner was unfurled, Haderer was visibly emotional, full of pride to be associated with someone who had such a large impact on anyone who came in contact with him. His presence loomed large over the game, and it almost felt like he was there in spirit, she said. 

“I’m proud of the legacy Bubba has put out there,” Haderer said. “I’m proud to be his sister. We’ve helped each other in so many different ways growing up. I’ve always been by his side, and today, he’s right above us. I know he’s here; I feel him. I think the kids feel him, too.” 

Several former players also showed up to pay their respects to James. Karin Zikra was one of them. She went to Olympia from 2014 to 2018 and played for the Titans tennis team for three years. She now attends the University of Central Florida.  

“He was so supportive, he always encouraged us and pushed us to always be our best,” Zikra said of James. “He really made it a special time.” 

When she heard the news on New Year’s Day that he had died, it came as a shock because he appeared to be in good health up until his death, she said.

“He was always so active, so it was heartbreaking,” Zikra said. “I reached out to Coach Carol a couple days after and wanted to see how I could convey my condolences and have his memory live on.” 

Many players, current and former, had a special memory of James that would always live on in their hearts. While most of them were conversations about life or a piece of advice he had given them — senior Ella Sobeck loved talking about the Chicago Cubs with him — he also was not afraid to express tough love when needed. 

Grant Novotny, a junior on the team, started playing tennis when he was a freshman. Being relatively new to the sport and to team sports, he brought only a water bottle with him to a match rather than a large water jug, as James had requested everyone have. 

Novotny said he used to be a hot-headed player. That led to a moment between them that still sticks with him. 

“I came off the court after playing singles and was about to go out and play doubles,” Novotny said. “He stopped me and said, ‘Grant, is that a water bottle?’ I said, ‘Yeah,’ and he got mad at me. He said that I won’t be playing doubles then. I said, ‘Coach, that wasn’t fair,’ and I spiked my water bottle. He had me run five laps around the court. That taught me that there’s always consequences for my actions.” 

Perhaps the biggest symbolism for the day came when each of the players carried a balloon, star-shaped and colored in Olympia school colors, out onto the court and let them fly off into the sky. Those seemed to bring the Titans good luck as they swept Wekiva 7-0. 

While it was a new season, and a whole new way of competing without James on the sideline, his memory will never be forgotten by the team as it moves forward with the season.