Confined to a wheelchair, Loren Dils remains a big presence on court

It’s been more than 35 years since Ronald Reagan stated, during his first inaugural address, “Those who say that we’re in a time when there are no heroes, they just don’t know where to look.” We discovered heroes in every state, starting with the determined 69-year-old who won a match at an ITF Pro Circuit event earlier this year in the Alabama town of Pelham, and culminating with the coach who has overcome multiple sclerosis to build a winning program at the University of Wyoming. Their compelling stories of courage, perseverance and achievement demonstrate that the message delivered by our 40th President rings as true today as it did then.

“Are you sure?”

That was the question Loren Dils asked when he was first diagnosed with ALS, a progressive neurodegenerative disease, in early 2008. Just 41 years old at the time, the father of two young boys was working under his identical twin brother, Alan, as the men’s assistant tennis coach at the University of New Mexico.

The Belen, NM, native first knew something was wrong when his typically strong serve started deteriorating, along with his energy level. When another doctor confirmed the grim diagnosis, Dils made the decision to finish out the spring tennis season, breaking the news to his players before their conference tournament.

“They rallied around me,” he says. “To see the outpouring from the community is awesome. It makes you realize who your friends are.”

Today, Dils is confined to a wheelchair and breathing with the help of a ventilator, but he’s far from isolated from the Albuquerque community. He has lobbied for research funding in Washington, D.C. on behalf of the ALS Association of New Mexico, and cheers loudly from the sidelines at UNM home matches.

Alan Dils praises his brother’s continuing contributions to the Lobos’ program.

“Loren has always been fantastic with the players,” Alan says. “He could relate to some better than I could. Even though he had the title ‘assistant coach,’ I viewed it as a dual head-coach [arrangement].”

Though Dils resigned from his coaching position soon after the diagnosis, he worked for three more years as the director of the Lobo Tennis Club and maintains strong relationships with many current and former players. They check in with him often, some even traveling from overseas to pay him a visit. When told that his positivity is inspiring, Dils insists he’s simply trying to set a good example. He knows his two sons are watching.

“You can go one of two ways,” he says. “You can sit in bed all day and feel sorry for yourself, or you can get out and do whatever you want to do.”

A tennis player from the age of nine, Dils competed collegiately at New Mexico State before starting his coaching career. It’s no wonder he faces his disease with an athlete’s mentality, providing invaluable perspective to others along the way.

“We always preach to players to never give up,” Dils says. “You may not get your chance until 6-all in the third, but you have to fight to the end. I think those thoughts every single day.”