Coaching Staff at Chattahoochee Plantation T.C.
UTA's coaching approach is built on three principles:
- Every player has their own game
- Fundamental respect for each player
- Hard work and discipline are required for success
No two players are alike. Every player has inate abilities and strengths as well as their own unique physical and mental make-up. Our coaches work hard with our players to find (and nurture) the style and type of game that works best for each player. This work begins with deep respect for each player as an individual and ends with hard work and discipline -- by both coach and player.,
The coaching staff at UTA is second to none!!!,
All of our senior coaches are former student athletes with degrees from schools such as Vanderbilt, Notre Dame, Virginia, Duke, North Carolina and Northwestern. In addition, some of our coaches played on the professional tour after college. Others had professional careers they gave up to teach tennis. Our coaches are well-rounded individuals who offer far more than tennis when developing a player.
Finally, each of our coaches has a portfolio of teaching skills, techniques and tools. All our coaches coach at drills as well as work with players during private lessons. While coaches do work with players individually, the collaborative environment at UTA allows players to thrive because they benefit from the knowledge and experience of all our coaches.
Each UTA tennis site has additional coaches that support development of adult and junior players. Check the "Coaching Staff" section on the website for your UTA site to see who is coaching at that location.,
David Drew is a graduate of Vanderbilt University and Partner in Charge of Junior Programming at CPTC. David received Bachelors and Masters degrees. After leaving Vanderbilt, he competed for three years on the ATP tour. David has recently been traveling and coaching ATP Touring professional Bobby Reynolds who hit his highest ranking at 62 in 2009. When not on the courts, David enjoys boating and playing golf.
As Partner in Charge of Adult programming at CPTC Patti O'Reillyhas played in all the Grand Slams -- Australian Open, French Open, Wimbledon and the US Open as a competitor on the woman's pro tour. Patti also played for Duke University where she was a collegiate All-American and a cum laude graduate. Patti and her identical triplet sisters are Duke University Hall of Famers and have a court named after them at Duke. Patti has also worked with the USTA National Team.
Kyle Bowers- Kyle is a honors graduate of Erskine College in South Carolina with a bachelors degree in Sports Medicine. He was a starter on the varsity tennis team all four years. The highlight of his college career was the friendships he formed and making the NCAA D-2 National Championships with his team in 1998. Kyle pursued professional tennis at the minor league level for 2 years out of college before deciding he had a much better chance of eating and living indoors if he pursued coaching instead. Since that decision he has worked at Universal Tennis Academy since 2002. His coaching passion over the last 5 years has been developing the 10 and Under program at UTA and teaching kids to play the game at a young age. Kyle still enjoys competing in tennis in Atlanta Leagues and against any coach or player who thinks they can handle relentless serving and volleying. Other joys are developing relationships with people at UTA, spending time with his family in SC, time with his church family in ATL, the outdoors, and traveling.
Ryan Hughes- From Kent in the south east of England, Ryan has coached at UTA since March 07, and is currently in charge of the challenger group. He attended the University of Southern Indiana and completed his bachelors in Business Administration. Ryan transferred to the tennis academy in Sutton, London from the age of 16 and competed on the English Giro Bank tour for two years during his college years. In his spare time Ryan enjoys listening to music, driving his '79 Trans Am and playing professional golf events around Georgia.
Nick Tzekos- Nick Tzekos played at Lander University in South Carolina and graduated with a BA in Finance. Prior to that Nick competed on the junior circuit in England and Greece where his family is from. Nick enjoys working with kids of all ages and works with several adult ALTA and USTA teams.
Vu Nguyen- Vu Nguyen attended the University of Georgia and received his degree in Sports and Exercise Science. He is P-1 certified through the USTPTA and certified by USPTR. His previous employment includes being the Head Pro and Director of Tennis at Petersburg Racquet Club in Augusta, GA from 2006-2010. While in Augusta he was a certified national trainer for 10 and Under tennis. He joined UTA in January of 2011 and oversees the 10 and Under Program. While at UTA he has served as a national coach for Regional and National Training Centers for 10 and Unders and 12 and Unders. Vu is also a part of the Georgia Junior Competition Commitee.
Raian Luchichi- Raian is a graduate of the University of North Carolina. While at UNC Raian played the #1 Singles and Doubles position and was a Two time Division 1 All American in both. Raian was also voted NCAA/ITA Collegiate Senior Player of the Year 2006, competed on the ATP Tour for 2 and half years and achieved a highest ranking of 387 ATP doubles, and 526 ATP singles. Raian is a USPTR certified teaching pro at the Professional Level, was the Volunteer Assistant Coach at UNC- Chapel Hill, and has taught professional, collegiate, junior, beginner, and adult players of all levels.
