This experience gives first-day-of-school vibes for Kristin Gobberg.

The excitement of new challenges coupled with the new Cheyenne Mountain boys’ tennis coach’s first foray at the helm of a prep program. This is reminiscent of the end of summer vacation.

In case Gobberg required encouragement, her mother sent a text to ensure her daughter remained poised through this process.

“She said, ‘Good luck your first day of tryouts,’” Gobberg said. “She said, ‘I remember when you were in that position and she really grounded me and made me realize that this isn’t about me. This is about these boys and I couldn’t be more impressed with them. But this is certainly bringing back memories of high school and college playing days.”

Cheyenne Mountain will have its first contest of the season, a home game Tuesday at 4 p.m. against Coronado. It will be the first match since 1987 where Dave Adams isn’t Cheyenne Mountain’s head coach.

Adams retired to close the 2026 girls tennis season, which ended with a team championship and Red-Tailed Hawks players collected five of the seven individual titles at the individual tournament.

During his coaching stint, which began in 1987 for the boys and in 2007 with the girls, Adams collected more than 30 team championships.

“It’s no secret that I have big shoes to fill,” Gobberg said. “I’m incredibly humbled and privileged to be the varsity head coach and Coach Adams has been a great supporter and an advocate. This is an opportunity to continue the tradition of Cheyenne Mountain High School tennis and to bring something new.

“I’m happy to have the support not only of the coaching staff, but of the community, the parents and that makes the transition easier knowing it’s not all on me. Well, at the end of the day, the buck stops with me as coach. But still the support is great.”

That quip is one of many aspects of Gobberg’s approach that Adams said he enjoys about the first-year coach. Adams, who still serves as an assistant with the team, chimes in when necessary, but cherishes Gobberg’s mix of sternness and comedy.

“She’s a humble person and she wants to learn,” Adams said. “She’s made some observations that I wish I looked at 20 years ago. She has a fresh approach to things and she played Division-I tennis, so she knows a lot about tennis.”

Gobberg played high school tennis at Marian Central Catholic in Illinois, and advanced to the state tournament at No. 1 singles all four years. She parlayed that success to a tennis career at Villanova University where, from 2008-2011, she played both singles and doubles and learned invaluable lessons.

Parts of that wisdom came in arenas outside of tennis. Gobberg, a self-described “basketball nut” has followed Villanova’s mens basketball team closely. Jay Wright, who coached the Wildcats from 2001-22 and won two national championships, inspired Gobberg and helped mold her with his approach.

“Jay Wright would say, ‘Everybody’s role is different, but their status is the same,’” Gobberg said. “… I felt my role was being a leader in a different way. Now I just have to relay that to 14 to 18-year-old boys.”

Kris Roberts knows Gobberg has that ability because he watched her exude that energy as a volunteer. Roberts, the Cheyenne Mountain athletic director, said Gobberg’s work last spring as a volunteer coach was the catalyst that placed her at the helm.  

“Her skillset and resume speak for itself,” Roberts said. “She did a phenomenal job of relating to that talented group of girls last spring. The relational skills with coaching are key and too often you see people who are uber talented in their time of playing and they can’t transfer that knowledge to kids or there’s a lack of accountability or too much accountability.

“She’s that perfect blend of having a standard but also being flexible enough to move with the current. She’s the total package.”

As the Red-Tailed Hawks prepare for the season opener, Gobberg said her focus is growth. Strong finishes and great placement are great, but progress on and off court holds as much value as a flawless record.

“I’m hoping that whatever team and individual goals that these boys have set, they either achieve it or get close,” Gobberg said. “I hope myself, the coaching staff and the team continue to represent Cheyenne Mountain High School at the highest level with how we carry ourselves and that they continue to grow. And that’s not always about their tennis game.”