Richard is the new Head Coach and Centre Manager of the North Shore Tennis Centre. He comes to us with 15years coaching experience from juniors & schools to full-time players & adults. He believes in developing a sound technical base, while nurturing a positive learning environment for all his players. Backed by his range of experiences, qualifications & friendly nature, Richard will always help with any of your tennis goals!

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Current Club Professional Coaching Qualification (Tennis Australia)
• Advanced Level 2 Coach (ATPCA)
• Former coaching qualification course presenter for ATPCA
• Cert 3 & 4 in Fitness (Human Performance Centre)

Jedi has been honoured by Tennis Gear with the Coach of the Year award consecutively in 2022 and 2023, attesting to his exceptional coaching prowess. With a coaching tenure spanning 15 years, a decade of which was dedicated to coaching school children in Beijing, China, Coach Jedi has acquired extensive experience in tennis education.

Employing a holistic coaching approach, Coach Jedi goes beyond imparting on-court skills, emphasizing the importance of off-court elements such as rest and nutrition. He subscribes to the belief that an athlete's performance on the court represents merely the visible aspect of their endeavours, with the unseen efforts exerted day in and day out, both on and off the tennis court.

Coach Jedi's coaching expertise extends beyond the realm of tennis, having successfully guided professional athletes in sports nutrition. Some of his proteges have achieved notable feats, including Guinness World Record Holder status, championships in Natural Bodybuilding Australia, and triumphs in International Adventure Racing and triathlon competitions. In recognition of his expertise, Coach Jedi has been invited to serve as a resource person in sports nutrition at events in Brisbane and the Gold Coast scheduled for 2024.

Qualifications:

* Developmental Coach certification from the United States Professional Tennis Association (USPTA)

* Diploma of Sports from Tafe Queensland

* Diploma of Leadership & Management from Tafe Queensland

* Masters Degree in Development Communication, Philippines

These qualifications underscore Coach Jedi's commitment to continuous learning and professional development in the field of sports coaching and communication.

Tyrone started playing tennis at the age of 3 at a local Brisbane club. He then completed and coached locally and internationally, running a successful private school tennis program in Brisbane for 9 years. During that time, he grew a program from the ground up with 400 students playing tennis. After that he began developing adult programs and training several young and upcoming players to become coaches.Tyrone made the move over to Shaw Park in January and can be seen in the pro shop and out on court.

Coaching Style: I am a Coach because of my passion for my work. I am able to foster the growth of my players through the numerous opportunities I am fortunate to provide. I will mold a group of individuals to communicate, to be responsible, and to hold themselves accountable. I believe in nurturing their dreams to be the best on and off the court. I look at it often and keep a journal for my own use during the season to help me grow and develop as a Coach. I am a firm believer that if you have knowledge pass it on to those who do not.

Experience: Julien joined TennisGear in 2017 from France where he worked as a coach since the age of 18 years. His experiences include working with adults, college & high school players, junior development programs, Adaptive Disability Tennis Program for adults and children, high performance, and tournament support.

Key Attributes: 10 years coaching experience
13 years playing experience

Qualifications: Tennis France Community Coaching Course 2007
Currently enrolled in Junior Development Course Tennis France
Advanced Diploma in Sport Management (STAPS Rouen (France)) 2008
Sports Instructor (BPJEPS APT-France degree) 2012

Coaching Style: I believe that professionalism and passion are the foundations of a successful coaching
environment. My approach instinctively fosters attention to detail and high consistency on the court. I am
dedicated to creating a fun yet disciplined atmosphere where students can maximize their potential as
players and grow as individuals.

Experience: I began my coaching career in Chile, where I spent 10 years working with athletes of all ages
and abilities. In 2019, I moved to Australia, where I have continued to pursue my passion for tennis
coaching. Over the past five years, I have embraced the challenges and opportunities that come with
working in a new environment, contributing to the development of players at various levels.

Key Attributes
15 years of coaching experience
Extensive experience working with athletes of all ages and abilities
Proven ability to foster player development both on and off the court
Experience in adapting coaching techniques to suit different cultural contexts
Committed to promoting an active and healthy lifestyle through sports

Qualification:
• Bachelor's Degree in Physical Education
• Certified Tennis Australia Junior Development Coach

Coaching Style:

My belief in coaching is every player should strive to be the best they can be, with a play style that suits their natural
talents. As a coach, I look to encourage and engage students in the game of tennis. Aiding in their journey to find
their own unique game and maximize their potential as a player. I enjoy seeing players recognize their
improvements and develop a love for a sport they can enjoy for a lifetime. My ideal dream is to help players get
better every day and appreciate the journey towards progress.

Experience:

Ben joined TennisGear in 2024 and has played competitive tennis for over 10 years in the United States.
Over the course of his playing career, he has achieved a top 10 junior ranking in his home state, won a
state championship with his high school team, received an individual all-state accolade his senior year, and
has won multiple junior tournaments across the southern U.S.. His coaching experience includes providing
private lessons for beginner players and leading group lessons at multiple tennis centers for all skill levels.

Key Attributes

10 Years of competitive playing experience on the junior and adult level of the USTA.
Coaching experience across a multitude of skill levels.
Reached a top 10 ranking in the state of Arkansas multiple times.
Experience leading group lessons with engaging and fun practice.

Qualification:

Bachelor’s degree in marketing from the University of Arkansas
Event Manager for ATP Future’s Tournament.

Coaching Style:

My tennis coaching style emphasizes a balance between technical precision, enjoyment of the game, and strategic thinking. Prioritize teaching proper technique to ensure players develop a strong foundation, but also make sessions engaging and fun to keep motivation high. Additionally, I always incorporate game strategy to help players think tactically and apply their skills effectively during matches. 

Experience:

Have played since 7 years old and competed in junior, high school and College level, getting up to the top 10 players in all different stages. I coached people from different ages and levels giving me vast knowledge in adjusting a practice from the basic to the very specific. 

Key Attributes:

6 years coaching experience

7 years competing on different levels and ages

Coaching tennis technique and develop a winner mindset 

Qualification: 

Diploma in Leadership 

Bachelor in tourism and outdoor activities

Coaching style: I am passionate about maximising every player's potential.  Giving them the best opportunity to improve themselves both as a player and a person.  More recently I am passionate about growing the game of tennis and passing on my coaching knowledge and experience to the TennisGear coaching team.  

Experience:  A former South African, Damien lived and worked in the UK where he was the LTA Great Britain’s National Women’s Coach from 2007-2013 This role has seen him work closely with Great Britain’s Federation Cup team and players like Laura Robson (Career-high WTA rank #27) and Heather Watson (current WTA rank #38.  As a player, Damien reached an ATP rank of #273 in singles and #152 in doubles before progressing into coaching on the ATP tour working with players including Wesley Moodie (ATP Singles ranking #70 and Wimbledon Doubles Champion), John Laffnie De Jager (ATP Doubles #20), Robbie Koenig (ATP Doubles #30), Chris Haggard and Jeff Coetzee (ATP Doubles rankings of #30). More recently Damien has been TennisGears' Coach and Development Manager since 2017

Key attributes: An enthusiastic and experienced tennis professional, adopting a motivated and positive approach to all tasks. . Key assets are the ability to communicate with people and colleagues at all levels, organize and manage tennis center programs and personnel.  A loyal, determined and results oriented person.

Qualifications: TA Development Coach, LTA Master Performance Coach