Tennis Coach & Instructor

Coach Larry has been playing tennis for over 55 years, started teaching tennis in the mid-1970s and has been a certified professional instructor since 1985. In 2007, Larry was nominated as USTA Tennis Pro of the Year and GPTA has nominated him as Independent Professional of the Year and Pro Volunteer of 2007. He volunteered to assist with Tennis Against Breast Cancer at St. Ives Country Club sponsored by Northside Hospital. In May, he assisted with Special Olympics at Dunwoody Country Club conducted by GPTA, attended a seminar on “How to Work with Children with Special Needs”, at the Racquet Club of the South. He participated in NFL Alumni Caring for Kids Foundation, at Bears Best Country Club. He attended an important GPTA meeting co-sponsored by USTA, where Southeast USTA introduced the children’s 36/60 program. Also in July, Larry became a board member of the GPTA. He has also contributed to the GPTA drill sessions that are conducted at the various tennis clubs throughout metro Atlanta.

 

He is certified with the United States Professional Tennis Registry (USPTR). Larry has been a member of the GPTA for three years. Since being transferred to Atlanta from California in the early 1970s, he has been active in ALTA and USTA, both playing and coaching. While living in California, he was ranked one of the top players in the late 1960s & early 1970s. He also competed in State, Regional; National & International (Europe) sanctioned tournaments.

 

Today, Larry provides motivational seminars for Fortune 1000 companies to help recognize exceptional performance inspire personal achievement and reward excellence. Whether corporations are focused on increasing sales, building loyalty, rewarding employees or promoting new products or services; using tennis instruction/coaching as a guide to inspire and excite has developed into a very successful business venture for Larry. He acquired his management knowledge and experience while an executive for Rockwell International, Digital Equipment Corp & Hewlett Packard.

 

He is a United States Air Force Veteran, Georgia realtor, tennis coach, fly fisherman, kayaker, husband and father. He is a member of the American Legion, Post 201, Alpharetta; Trout Unlimited (Georgia Chapter) and the Sierra Club, volunteering his time to clean-up the Chattahoochee River and the environment. Larry is a big contributor of his time in working with the American Cancer Society. In addition, he does volunteer work for his community, Windermere Subdivision, Forsyth County and United States Air Force Veterans groups. He is a graduate and member of the Forsyth County Sheriff Citizens Law Enforcement.

 

Coach Larry is a member of United States Professional Tennis Registry (USPTR), United States Tennis Association (USTA), Atlanta Lawn Tennis Association (ALTA), Professional Athletes for Hope, Int’l Tennis Hall of Fame & Georgia Professional Tennis Association (GPTA). According to Larry “the role of the tennis coach is to assist in the growth and development of players of all ages, so they can enjoy the lifetime pleasure of tennis, both socially and competitively.” Larry’s knowledge and appreciation of tennis and its history is extensive. “Tennis is relatively simple if you do several basic things well; watch the ball and move your feet.” Perhaps the best advice I ever received on playing and teaching tennis was from a Harry Hopman, the legendary Australian tennis player and Davis Cup Captain when he said to me, “hit the ball where your opponent ain’t.”

 

Larry's innovative teaching methods include programs emphasizing group and private lessons, progressions for all the basic, advanced strokes, corrective techniques, practice routines, use of spins, drill organization, singles/doubles tactics, and how to practice for tennis matches. A major focus is on “Doubles Tennis Tactics” system for developing and mastering play in doubles. Also, he demonstrates using patterns of play and drills, offering ideal positions and movements as well as the correct shots to dominate the court. The use of teaching aids is used to assist in the learning process. Finally, he has just started writing a book on the independent teaching professional, with the emphasis on how to be successful and make a profit instructing tennis.