What It Takes to Build Elite Tennis Players

Q&A with North Carolina Woman’s Tennis Coach

Q: How has recruiting evolved in the last 30 years?

One of the biggest changes has been the sheer number of coaches recruiting. When I was first hired as a head coach, there were very few non-power schools recruiting and each school would only have one person. Now, just about every school has at least two and nearly all power schools have the third recruiter as well.

Q: What are the biggest challenges when making the jump from juniors to college and from college to pros?

The biggest adjustment going from juniors to college is learning to be self-sufficient – most of these student-athletes are living on their own for the first time in their lives. Also, getting used to practicing less, but having more quality practices. Having to balance school, workouts, and a social life, you have to learn to adapt to being on court less than when you are going through an academy. The biggest hurdle going from college to the pros is getting used to losing. If you are an elite player in juniors who is used to winning a lot, you will likely win a lot in college – you will be surrounded by a team who is going to make you the best you can be. You won’t have that to start in the pros. In the pros, you are often traveling on your own each week having to fend for yourself to find practice courts and hitting partners.

Q: What are the key factors you look for in a recruit?

The biggest factor, for us, is whether or not they have what you can’t coach. Are they excited to get better? Is it a passion driving them or are they fulfilling an obligation? How do they treat their parents and coaches on court? Do they know how to exist within a team? We have a Tar Heels value system that we demand all of our players are recruits adhere to.

🎾 Toughness

🎾 Attitude

🎾 Relationships

🎾 Hardworking

🎾 Enjoyment

🎾 Excellence

🎾 Learning

🎾 Service

Q: How do you utilize analytics in your decision making and preparation?

We place a lot of emphasis on analytics in our doubles. It is easier in singles, in a best of three set format, to get a feel for your opponent’s strengths and weaknesses and to find successful patterns within a match. You do not have that luxury in a 6 game doubles set – it is a sprint, not a marathon. Tracking match-by-match for ourselves and our opponents, we are able to start each match knowing our best patterns and our opponent’s tendencies. That ever so slight edge is huge when you’re in a scenario where you can blink and be down 3-0.

Q: As you mention doubles, your alumnae have now won 88 professional doubles titles. For a program that is not usually known for their doubles, how have you developed strong professional doubles players?

A lot of that credit is due to my associate head coach, Tyler Thomson. He has helped instill a doubles philosophy of being aggressive and hungry doubles players. We focus on making sure our players are excited each time they step on the doubles court because you cannot manufacture energy in doubles. My assistant, Hayley Carter – a former WTA top-25 doubles player, has been huge in bringing a level of excellence every day on the doubles court. Hayley has some of the best hands at the net that I’ve ever coaches and I think a lot of our players take pride in being able to win a volley-to-volley point against her. And a lot of that is due to our team culture in general – you cannot be a good doubles player and be selfish.