Charlotte Tennis Academy

  

 

 

 

After graduating from Penn State University where he played #1 singles and doubles, Bill competed on the Professional Satellite Tennis Circuit both in the United States and abroad.  He now directs and manages Charlotte Tennis Academy, which he founded in 1989.  He coached college tennis, as an assistant, at Temple University where he received his Master’s Degree in Sports Administration. Bill is certified as a High Performance Developmental Coach by the USTA as well as a USPTA P1 Professional.  He is also a CrossFit level I fitness trainer.  Although his busy teaching schedule does not allow time for tournament competition these days, his previous competitive results include being ranked #1 in the Men’s 25s division in both the STA and NCTA in 1988; winner of the 1995 NC State 35s Championship, and 2001 winner of the NC State 30s Championship.  Through his love of teaching tennis, his rapport with teenagers and his competitive experience, Bill continues to help many juniors at CTA attain success in college tennis and beyond.

Fun facts:
favorite movies - Cool Hand Luke, Forrest Gump, The Graduate
favorite books - Mere Christianity, The Tender Bar
favorite music - Travis Hall, John Butler, JJ Grey, Michael Franti
favorite food - anything at Cajun YardDog, Italian food at Zios and Fontanellas
hobbies - disc golf, skiing, mountain biking, working out
when I grow up …. don’t want to grow up!
did you know …. Bill lived in Buffalo, NY and didn’t start to play tennis until age 13

 

 

As a teaching professional since 1992  Chris has specialized in junior development programs including coaching  Team Southern Boy’s 12s to a National title at the 2000 National Zonals.  He also acted as Head Coach for South Carolina’s High Performance Competition Training Center and spent the summer of 2001 coaching on the USTA Professional circuit at the Futures and Challengers levels.  Chris graduated from Coker College with a BS degree in Exercise Science where he received a full scholarship to play tennis.  He also has an interesting history on the baseball field (in his life before tennis) when he signed on as a free agent with the Atlanta Braves Organization and played 3rd base in the minors.  We’re very glad that Chris eventually chose tennis over baseball where he brings with him a unique passion for coaching and a gift at developing technique and tactics with our students at Charlotte Tennis Academy.  His certifcations and recent USTA coaching assignments include:
·         PTR Master Professional of High Performance
·         Certified ITF Level 3 High Performance (Trained and certified by the International Tennis Federation to coach and train players on the ATP & WTA Tours.  It is the highest ITF certification you can receive )
·         NCASE Elite level 5 Certification ( The National Council for Accreditation of Coaching Education is the sanctioning body for coaches education.  Elite Level 5 is the highest certification and used by the US Olympic Federation of coaches and the NCAA )
·         USTA High Performance Coach
·         Coach for the USTA Regional and National Player Development Training camps
·         Head Coach for USTA Southern Section Player Development Training Camps
·         USTA Southern Section Head Coach for Boy’s 12’s at the USTA National Hard Courts and Clay Courts

 Fun facts:
favorite movies - Rocky, The Natural, Tallega Nights
favorite book - The Talent Code (Daniel Coyle)
favorite food - Italian
favorite music - classic rock (Van Halen), country (K Chesney), sports radio
hobby - cares for two umbrella cockatoos
did you know … for a short time, Chris was a major league baseball player

Dennis is a native Charlottean who ended his high school career as the North Carolina 4A Singles and Doubles Champion.  In addition to earning a #2 ranking in the state, he competed in several national tournaments as a junior including the USTA National Junior Championships in Kalamazoo, Michigan.  Dennis then went on to play 4 years of college tennis at NC State and UNC Wilmington.  Prior to joining CTA, he taught at the American Yacht Club in New York as the Assistant Tennis Professional.  Aside from being a tennis pro Dennis is an Open level racquetball player and in 2010 finished the year at #1 in the state in the open division.  Dennis is also a CrossFit fitness trainer and has recently launched Cross Training Academy here at CTA.  Through his competitive nature, enthusiasm and love for the game, Dennis is a a great asset to our players at CTA. 

Fun facts:
favorite movie - Dumb and Dumber
favorite food - Qdoba/Chipolte
favorite book - Agassi’s autobiography
favorite music - 95.1, country (Tim McGraw, Keith Urban)
hobby - CrossFit, racquetball
when I grow up…. I want to own a fitness gym
did you know … Dennis didn’t play full time tennis until age 16 (played soccer, baseball and raquetball before that)

    

 

As a junior tennis player Jennifer was ranked #4 in the 14s and top 20 nationally in the 16s and 18s.  After competing internationally with the USTA National team, she played college tennis at the University of Notre Dame where she was awarded a four year, full scholarship.  At Notre Dame Jennifer was the winner of the Intercollegiate Tennis Association Scholar Athlete Award.  After graduating Magna Cum Laude with a double major in Sociology and Computer Applications she went on to work at a marketing firm in Atlanta for a year before deciding to pursue a career in teaching tennis.  Jennifer is a certified USPTA Tennis Professional as well as a certified Personal Trainer through the National Academy of Sports Medicine.  Her teaching career began in 2004 at Aronomink Country Club in Pennsylvania where she was the Assistant Tennis Pro in charge of junior camps.  She later went on to teach locally at Olde Providence Racquet Club and Matthews Tennis Club before joining us at Charlotte Tennis Academy.  She has a wealth of personal experience in junior and collegiate tennis and will be a tremendous role model for our players

Fun facts:
favorite movie - Napoleon Dynamite
favorite book - A Dog’s Purpose
favorite food - goat cheese… well, actually anything with alot of cheeze!
favorite city - San Diego, CA
favorite music - Dave Matthews, Phish, Moe, String Cheese, Avett Bros., Bob Dylan, etc.
hobbies - playing with dog Toby and anything fitness related (hiking, biking, strength training)
likes to …. go to concerts, too.
did you know …. Jennifer recently placed 9th in a half marathon and qualified for the Boston Marathon

 

 

 

After graduating from Pennsylvania State University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Biochemistry, Liz worked in Quality Control and Chemical Sales for several years in Charlotte.  Then she closed her eyes one day and woke up as Chief Financial Officer of Charlotte Tennis Academy.  Although she handles scheduling, invoicing,  and  other financial related duties, her favorite job at Charlotte Tennis Academy is photographing our players.

Fun facts:
favorite book - A Prayer for Owen Meany
favorite hobbies - playing Bridge and Words with Friends (she’s addicted to both) 
favorite food -anyting ethnic and spicy… and red wine!
favorite music - whatever Bill puts on her I-touch
favorite movie - The Princess Bride
when I grow up …. I want to hire a home chef
did you know…. Liz is one of six childen

 

 

To learn more about Junior Tennis and our program at CTA read through the stories of CTA players in coach Bill’s ‘letters to seniors.’