The Intercollegiate Tennis Association (“ITA”) in partnership with the United States Tennis Association (USTA) is happy to announce the 15 coaches from around the country who will make up the 2022-23 ITA USTA College Coach Mentorship class.
All of the following coaches have been chosen to pair up with veteran collegiate coaches this upcoming year:
- Kouri Allen, Coastal Alabama Community College
- Alexis Casati, Georgia Tech
- Adam Clark, The College of Wooster
- Craig Davidson, University of St. Joseph
- Orsi Golovics, Providence College
- Chance Joost, William Woods University
- Ryan Kucera, University of Wisconsin, at Milwaukee
- Carlos Lora, University of Mount Olive
- Jesus Lucart, Eastern Nazarene
- Josh Molino, Kansas Wesleyan University
- Gabrielle Moore, McNeese State University
- Daniela Nasser, Gonzaga University
- Karina Ono, SCAD Savannah
- Eric Spangler, Haverford College
- Evan Urbina, Air Force Academy
Now in the third year of the program, the first two years of the mentorship program have been more successful than even anticipated with many mentors and mentees still leaning on each other for advice and knowledge years after the program ended.
“The Mentorship Program has become one of the ITA’s signature coach education programs over the last three years,” stated ITA Director of Coach Education Danielle McNamara. “We are so excited about this next class of mentees and the outstanding mentors that have volunteered to be a part of the program. The in-person component we added this year is going to add an extra dimension to what is already an outstanding program and we can’t wait to get started.”
Expanding from 12 mentorship pairs to 15 after the inaugural year in 2020, the mentorship program has now served over 25 coaches from every level of college tennis pairing them with some of the most experienced and knowledgeable coaches at the collegiate level.
“This has been an incredibly valuable program since it began two years ago, and the third year promises only more growth and development for some of the brightest young college coaches in the game,” stated Martin Blackman, General Manager of USTA Player Development. “Congratulations to all of the coaches selected to participate, as we continue to build the momentum and growth that comes when generations of coaches work together.”
All of the 2022-23 mentees will now partake in a virtual orientation involving all of the mentees and mentors followed by virtual educational opportunities throughout the year featuring outside guests and experts who will present on topics most relevant to the mentees.
Beginning with the 2022-23 mentorship class, mentees will also now be required to participate in an in-person workshop at the ITA National Convention in May of 2023 at the USTA National Campus in Lake Nona, FL. Each mentee will be provided a $500 travel stipend and receive free registration to the convention from the ITA.
