 Mike Bezemek, President
Keith Howard, 1st Vice President
Charlie Sizemore, 2nd Vice President
Tyson Stewart, Immediate Past President
David Sturgeon, Treasurer
Rhonda Psencik, Secretary
Bobby Kleinecke, Executive Director
For Immediate Release
Brad Gilbert Featured Speaker at TTCA Convention
Participants at the annual TTCA Convention December 3-5 at the Horseshoe Bay Resort were treated to an address and clinics by the legendary Brad Gilbert, who achieved a ranking as high as No. 4 in the world on the pro circuit.
His appearance was presented by Wilson Racket Sports.
Gilbert, a member of the ATP Tour from 1982-1995, also coached notable players including Andre Agassi, Andy Roddick, Andy Murray, and Kei Nishikori. The winner of 20 Tour titles who reached the finals of 20 other events, Gilbert delivered the keynote speech at the TTCA’s Hall of Fame/Awards Banquet.
“I was amazed,” said Gilbert, when asked to comment on the professionalism, energy, and dedication to the sport of tennis by TTCA members. “I’m not sure you will see that in any other state. You see how organized they are, and how many coaches have coached for such long terms. Some have coached for 30 or 40 years. It was truly awesome.”
“There is nothing like coaching tennis. It can help a player socially, athletically, and help with what they are going to do with their life.”
As a college player at Pepperdine University, Gilbert advanced to the NCAA Division I Men’s Singles final in 1982. He was inducted into the Intercollegiate Tennis Association Men’s Collegiate Tennis Hall of Fame in 2001.
Gilbert began his collegiate career at Foothill College, a two-year college in California. During this time, he captured the California Junior College Singles Championship. Gilbert developed a special relationship with his coach, Tom Chivington, who he described as “85 years young and is fishing in Hawaii.”
“He had a massive impact on my life because he is everything that is right in coaching,” Gilbert said. “He cared about every kid on the team. He didn’t treat you better than anyone else. That is what coaching is all about, when you can influence a player.”
Gilbert also won a Bronze Medal for the U.S. at the 1988 Olympics in South Korea, and sported a 10-5 record during Davis Cup play. The U.S. reached the Davis Cup World Group semifinals in 1986 and 1989 with Gilbert on the court.
Prior to the banquet, Gilbert put on a clinic titled “Proven Strategy for Winning Ugly,” similar to the title of his book, “Winning Ugly.”
“Everything in tennis is just about competing,” Gilbert explained. “At an early age, I was always thinking about what I could do to make my game go against somebody else’s. I always thought about my opponent’s strengths and weaknesses, and how to maximize what I am doing.”
Gilbert’s second clinic for the coaches was titled “Roddick and Agassi Tips and Drills for Everyday Use.”
“The great thing about coaching is you try to inspire,” Gilbert said. “You try to get the players better and help them to fulfill their dreams. You have to make tennis fun, you have to inspire, and try to help them improve.”
TTCA Executive Director Bobby Kleinecke posed a question to Gilbert: “If you were ‘tennis czar for a day, what would you do to spread this great sport to more kids’”?
“When you get kids hooked on tennis,” Gilbert responded, “they are hooked on tennis for life. Good things will happen. We need to get tennis in schools and make it more accessible and affordable to the kids.”
Gilbert has owned a tennis shop for 18 years, Brad Gilbert’s Tennis Nation, now located in Greenbrae, California. The shop is near the original site in San Rafael, in Marin County. He continues his work as a tennis analyst for ESPN, and works with a few kids and adults.
His website iswww.bradgilberttennis.com.
During the banquet, two coaches were inducted into the TTCA Hall Fame, Randall King (Fredericksburg,Texas)and Melissa Wells (Lindale, Texas).
King, a native of Brady, Texas, has been the head coach at Fredericksburg High School for 27 years. During his tenure, the Battlin’ Billies captured three Class 4A State Team Championships in 2015, 2018, and 2019. Four of his squads finished as runners-up. Fredericksburg also can claim five girls’ singles championships (three runners-up), two mixed doubles champs, and a boy’s titlist duo (one runner-up).
Wells had a distinguished coaching career from 1989-2019. She coached Queen City (1989-1991), Splendora (1991-1996), Gladewater (1996-2007), Mount Pleasant (2007), and Van (2007-2019). Her girls doubles tandem won the UIL Class 3A state title for Gladewater in 2001, and a Van mixed doubles duo took Class 3A top honors in 2009. Wells received the Van Education Foundation Ring of Honor in 2018. Wells also coached three state finalists, eight semifinalists, 38 qualifiers, and 16 team tournament qualifiers.
Last year’s TTCA Convention was virtual because of the pandemic. Therefore the 2020 TTCA Hall of Fame inductees were honored at this year’s event: Clinton Bowman (Denver City High School), RandyStewart (Bryan High School), John Furlow (Clements High School), and Holly Ford (Spring Hill High School). The 2020 Hall of Honor inductee was Earl Van Zandt (Fort Worth/The Tennis Shop).
2021 Wilson Coach of the Year Award Winners
3A & Under State Coach of the Year – Niki Morgan, Little River Academy High School
4A State Coach of the Year – Randy Namanny, Lindale High School
Region 1 – Danielle Blair, Argyle High School
Region 3 – Catherine Sedlacek, Madisonville High School
Region 4 – Kenny Gustafson, Wimberley High School
5A State Coach of the Year – Mark Hathorn, Abilene Wylie High School
Region 2 – Jenny Paine, Frisco Independence High School
Region 3 – Terri Saunders, Hendrickson High School
Region 4 – Suzanne Kidd, Georgetown High School
6A State Coach of the Year – Morgen Walker, Plano West High School
Region 3 – Budd Booth, Houston Memorial High School
Region 4 – Kenny Bice, San Antonio Johnson High School
State Middle School Coach of the Year – Anthony Smith, Coppell Middle School East
Assistant Coach of the Year
State 3A & Under – Salah Smith, Mason High School
State 4A –Marissa Latham, Frisco Emerson High School
State 5A – Daniel Olivares, Frisco Independence High School
State 6A – Dan Veve, Westwood High School
2021 Wilson Special Coach of the Year Awards
Carey Caldwell Character Award – Gregg Parker, Clear Springs High School
Ike Groce Vision Award – John Latham, Frisco Lebanon Trail High School
Loretta Hrncir Dedication Award – Ann Daniel, Wills Point High School
Jim Longbotham Leadership Award – Nick Mercado, Frisco Lone Star High School
Kim Enocksen Integrity Award – Ryan Hale, McKinney High School
Brandon Clark Courage Award – Julie Hill, Athens High School
Holly Ford Sportsmanship Award – Tommy Heim, Deer Park High School
State Team Tennis Champions
TTCA 3A & Under – Mason High School
UIL 4A – Wimberley High School
UIL 5A – Highland Park High School
UIL 6A – Plano West High School
Team Sportsmanship Award Winners
State
TTCA 3A & Under – Kirbyville High School; Yoakum High School
UIL 4A – Little River Academy High School
UIL 5A – Katy Jordan High School
UIL 6A – Lake Travis High School
Region I
4A – Big Spring High School
5A – Abilene Wylie High School
6A – Keller High School
Region II
4A – Lindale High School
5A – Frisco Lebanon Trails High School
6A – The Woodlands High School
Region III
4A – Center High School
5A – A&M Consolidated High School
6A – Houston Memorial High School
Region IV
4A – Boerne High School
5A – Mission Sharyland High School
6A – Austin Westlake High School
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