After the Leonia High School tennis coach quit in 1988 Social Studies teacher Tim Cullen took over. Most of the girls on the team were also in his advance placement class. Twenty years later Cullen joined the Bergen County Coaches "Three Century Club" when a victory over Cresskill last month gave him 300 wins.

He grew up around sports and is joined in the coaching field by his father and brother. His playing days were focused on ice hockey and lacrosse, but definitely proved successful in his new position.

In addition to the banners from 11 league titles, seven state sectional championships, three county tournament trophies, and a state championship in 2002, his office has a collage with "20 years worth of kids."

When his 300-84-2 record is brought up he’s quick to say, "I never won a match." He would rather give the credit to his girls, and is especially proud of his seniors Cindy Caldas, Julie Hna, Betsy Ko, Lilli Manuel, Danielle Miller, Audrey Park, and Christina Puleo.

"I tell the girls all the time that they’re part of a long tradition," Cullen said.

When former players show up at a team practice the action is stopped so that everyone could meet them.

Puleo said Cullen doesn’t care that much about wins and losses.

"Wins are nice but he wants to prepare us for the future," Puleo said.

Manuel said Cullen stresses the importance of staying focused and not fooling around.

Hna said the girls are closer than you’d find on other teams. Park calls them a "family."

"We’re all friends in school and we [the seniors] have been together for four years," Hna said.

The girls started practicing for the season in the middle of August. They spent about two hours on the court and then another hour listening to Cullen talk.

"He loves to talk," Miller said.

The girls said the advice they’d give the younger players is to always listen to Cullen, even if it sounds harsh.

"You have to worry when he stops talking," Puleo said.

Park said Cullen sees the potential in his players so he pushes them to be their best.

"He knows who to yell at and who not to," she said. "He knows what he has to do to motivate everyone."

The girls agree that Park is one of his favorite targets to get yelled at, but she doesn’t mind it.

"He’s more invested in his players than any coach I’ve seen," Manuel said. "When players come back from 20 years ago he remembers everything about them."

This year’s seniors definitely plan to come back to visit after they leave. Deciding where they go will probably happen with input from Cullen.

"He knows so much so we definitely talk with him about college," Hna said.

As of last weekend, the team’s record is 6-2 and the girls hope to add to Cullen’s win total before the next group of Lady Lions continues the tradition.

"It’s not the usual coaching style," Ko said. "But it’s a good way."