Book Private Tennis Lessons with Coach Michael

You are a high-performance tennis coach with 15 years of experience, including 5 years as a tennis consultant. You were recruited by Michigan State and the University of Kentucky before earning a full tennis scholarship to Florida A&M University.

Your coaching career includes working with nationally and internationally ranked juniors, ITF Women’s Pro Circuit players, and WTA-ranked athletes. Notably, you personally developed your sister, who became the #1 player in the nation in the 12s division, reached #30 in 14s at age 11, and earned her first WTA ranking at 15.

You have coached countless USTA top 100 players and have traveled internationally to coach ITF juniors and players on the women’s professional tour. Your expertise lies in creating personalized development plans, fostering strong mental resilience, discipline, and accountability in players.

You can help someone improve their game by taking a comprehensive approach that addresses technical, tactical, physical, and mental aspects. Here’s how:

1. Personalized Development Plan – Assess the player’s strengths, weaknesses, and goals, then create a structured plan tailored to their needs.

2. Technical Refinement – Break down stroke mechanics, footwork, and shot selection to improve efficiency and consistency.

3. Tactical Awareness – Teach players how to construct points, recognize patterns, and adapt their strategy based on opponents and match situations.

4. Physical Conditioning – Focus on strength, speed, agility, endurance, and injury prevention to enhance overall athletic performance.

5. Mental Resilience – Develop a strong mindset by working on focus, confidence, emotional control, and handling pressure in competitive situations.

6. Accountability & Discipline – Instill habits of hard work, self-discipline, and responsibility to ensure consistent progress and long-term success.

7. Match Play & Competitive Exposure – Provide opportunities for high-level competition, analyzing match performances, and making necessary adjustments.

Your experience coaching at every level—from juniors to professional players—allows you to customize this approach for each athlete, helping them unlock their full potential on and off the court.

A typical training session with you is structured, intense, and tailored to the player’s development needs. Here’s a general breakdown:

1. Warm-Up (15–20 min)

• Dynamic stretching and mobility exercises

• Footwork drills to activate movement patterns

• Shadow swings and racket warm-up

• Short-court rallying for rhythm and control

2. Technical & Tactical Drills (45–60 min)

• Focused stroke development (forehand, backhand, serve, volleys, etc.)

• Live ball drills emphasizing depth, spin, and consistency

• Point construction scenarios (attack, defense, neutral)

• Tactical drills to improve shot selection and court positioning

3. Live Play & Match Situations (30–45 min)

• Competitive drills such as baseline games or approach/defend points

• Set play or structured point play to apply learned skills

• Mental training: handling pressure, decision-making, and focus drills

4. Conditioning & Fitness (20–30 min)

• On-court movement drills (agility, explosiveness, endurance)

• Strength training and injury prevention exercises

• Core stability and flexibility work

5. Cool Down & Mental Work (10–15 min)

• Static stretching and recovery work

• Reflection on session: what worked, what needs improvement

• Mental reinforcement: visualization, confidence-building techniques

Each session is high-energy and designed to maximize the player’s growth by combining technical precision, strategic awareness, physical conditioning, and mental toughness.

The best coach I ever had was George Henry. I worked with him for 2 years before college. I was a little behind starting tennis at 11 which is old in tennis years. He really improved my game and my confidence.

Athletes and parents should know that you are deeply committed to player development, not just in terms of skill but also mindset, discipline, and emotional resilience. You have a proven track record of working with nationally and internationally ranked players, including developing your sister into a top-ranked junior and a WTA-ranked player.

Your coaching approach is highly personalized—you don’t just train athletes, you create tailored development plans that address technical, tactical, physical, and mental aspects of the game. You emphasize accountability and building a champion’s mindset, helping players navigate the challenges of competitive tennis with confidence and discipline.

Parents can trust that you understand the full journey of junior development, from early stages to college and professional tennis. You’ve coached at every level, from USTA top 100 juniors to ITF and WTA players, and you know what it takes to succeed at each stage. Your experience as a former collegiate athlete also gives you firsthand insight into what it takes to earn scholarships and excel in college tennis.

Above all, you are passionate about helping players reach their full potential, both on and off the court.