Feature Story

By Peter Teske

Lagniappe staff

The City of Mobile is on a hot streak, serving up nothing but aces in matches against Seattle and Convent, La. to court big industry like Northrop Grumman and ThyssenKrupp.

Utilizing Mobile’s Copeland-Cox Tennis Center, the largest public facility in the nation, to court national tennis tournaments should be an ace too. As a matter of fact, Copeland-Cox hasn’t had any problems attracting national tournaments, according to Mobilian James Byrd.

“I feel that Mobile has one of the best facilities in the country and Scott and Lorraine Novak do an excellent job managing the facility and running the tournaments,” Byrd explained.

However, lately problems have arisen, according to some who frequent the center, in the form of a confused chain of command that doesn’t allow for city employees at Copeland-Cox to report directly to Novak. Instead, city employees report to interim superintendent, Tyrone Crandall, who critics say has been flagrantly mishandling management decisions.

The perplexing protocol has resulted in tournament mix-ups Byrd and other members find detrimental to Copeland-Cox and Mobile.

“At a recent USTA sanctioned junior tournament, five courts could not be used because of burned out lights. Mr. Tyrone Crandall did nothing to correct the problem. If you check the maintenance records of the past five years, city electricians have always completed the work necessary for the tennis center to run a tournament without a lighting problem,” Byrd said. “Due to Mr. Crandall’s failure to have the lights repaired for the recent junior tournament, players were forced to play late into the night on Saturday, May 3.”

According to USTA rules, junior tournaments are not to be played past midnight.

The ramifications are far costlier than a few kiddies staying up past their bed times, though. According to Byrd, Scott Novak received over 15 complaints from parents and players. Many complained directly to the USTA.

“Tyrone Crandall left during the day on Saturday, May 3, and he was not at the tennis center to hear these complaints. This is how cities lose tournaments and this will hurt Mobile’s chance in the future for adding new tournaments,” Byrd said.

District 5 City Councilman Reggie Copeland is aware of complaints about Crandall’s practices.

“His biggest issue is his negative style and his ability to get along with people. I’ve been in office 22 years, and this is the first time I’ve had these types of complaints,” he said.

Copeland, who is the “Copeland” in Copeland-Cox, said Crandall’s management of the tennis center has caused unhappiness among its regular patrons and has caused him to get more involved in ensuring smooth operation of the center in his district.

Copeland also knows the tennis center’s total annual revenue is more than $20 million and says it is bringing in new tournaments all the time. He calls the facility a “godsend” and believes it needs better leadership in order to keep growing and bringing in new tournaments.

In regards to Tyrone Crandall’s management of the tennis center, Al Stokes, Chief of Staff to Mayor Sam Jones said, “My assessment was that the criticism was targeted at the wrong person. I know that the system was not broken because a light was not working.”

Jones appointed Crandall to the position when the previous manager retired.

Valerie Blankenship, a member at Copeland-Cox, says lighting has not been the only tournament-related problem at the tennis center in recent history.

“Recently, the restrooms were closed for painting during a national tournament. Would you have closed and painted the restrooms at city hall when ThyssenKrupp and Northrop Grumman came to visit?” Blankenship said.

“It’s hard to imagine somebody doing that,” Copeland said.

Byrd remembers the complications that resulted from poor maintenance scheduling and feels this incident left a negative connotation for the name of the Copeland-Cox Tennis Center.

“The players could NOT use the clubhouse because the paint smell was so strong and unbearable. Granted, the restrooms needed a paint job, but having them painted during a major national tournament only embarrassed the City of Mobile,” Byrd said.

Stokes feels scheduling was in accordance with protocol.

“Painting was scheduled for a time that was least intrusive to the tennis center,” he said.

These incidents along with other problems regarding cracks and weeds growing on several courts have initiated an effort to resolve the problem.

Blankenship and Copeland believe the answer lies in appointing Novak to act as a full-time head of the tennis center. Although Copeland can’t get involved in personnel matters, he has been approached by several constituents eager to see Scott Novak appointed to the position.

“He should be the logical choice. He has the experience and ability to get along with people, which is Mr. Crandall’s downfall,” Copeland said.

Blankenship’s resolution leaves room for Crandall at Copeland-Cox.

“Create a merit system position for Scott Novak with direct authority over all tennis center employees. There is a precedent for this. John Bell (Public Works), a mayoral appointee, is now in a merit system position. Promote Tyrone Crandall to a management position that reports to Scott,” she offered.

One issue Copeland is sensitive to is the perception by some that any attempt to replace Crandall is racial. He says it is simply a management issue.

“This is not a black-and-white issue. We’ve just got to get a person who can get along with people,” Copeland said.

Blankenship’s opinion is based in her desire to see Mobile’s tennis scene flourish.

“I do not know Scott Novak or Tyrone Crandall other than to say hello. My opinions are based strictly on their job performance and my desire to see tennis prosper and grow. I’m proud of Mobile’s tennis facilities and reputation for tournaments,” she explained.

Crandall’s interim status began a few months ago and will remain that way unless he is replaced, or the mayor names him to the position permanently. Attempts to reach Crandall were unsuccessful. Novak has applied for the position of superintendent at Copeland-Cox.

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