HighFIVE: Lou Iantorno

Lou Iantorno named Colorado’s 2026 USTA L.E.A.D. representative for community tennis leadership

Lou Iantorno says “As a USTA league team captain for many years, my focus has always been on the players, many of whom became friends through our time together on the court. I was not trying to build a dream team for nationals; I was building a team centered on relationships and camaraderie.”

Lou’s mindset of tennis being about community and his active involvement as a Player Representative with the Thornton Tennis Association (TTA) are some of the reasons why he was selected to be the Intermountain Tennis Association’s Colorado representative for the 2026 USTA L.E.A.D. Initiative, which represents Leadership, Empowerment and Development.

The program is a national leadership development experience designed for Community Tennis Association (CTA) leaders who are ready to strengthen their organizations, expand access to tennis, and create lasting impact in their communities. Built on a proven leadership model, this initiative brings together CTA leaders from across the country for a cohort-based learning experience that blends expert instruction, peer collaboration, and real-world application.

“Being selected was humbling, and it was exactly the opportunity I was looking for to grow my skill set and continue finding ways to build new tennis infrastructure in Thornton,” says Lou. Lou’s selection was not a surprise to Kristy Harris, USTA Colorado Community Services Director, who says “Throughout Colorado, there is a growing need specifically to expand, repair and protect tennis courts and accommodate the record participation which makes it even more critical to establish a voice for tennis. Lou understands the importance of relationships with decision makers and his leadership and efforts to bring people together to thoughtfully discuss the issues and the value of tennis accessibility is advocacy in action!”

As a Denver native, Lou has seen the consistent growth of tennis in Colorado. He started playing tennis around the age of ten at a local park, with his interest sparked by watching the majors on tv.

“I started with wooden racquets, then moved to aluminum racquets, and eventually to composite racquets. I played recreationally as a child and continued playing throughout my adult life,” says Lou. Still an active player at 71, Lou is on a number of 3.5 and 4.0 teams. 

Lou got involved with the Tennis Thornton Association about 20 years ago and has played a key role in growing tennis in the community. While Lou has been involved in various aspects of the TTA, lack of courts has been a major focal point for him. He says, “No one should be told they cannot play tennis because there are not enough courts.” About ten years ago, the Thornton Tennis Association successfully helped secure four new courts at a local recreation center and they are currently working to get four more courts constructed next to the existing courts. “With support from the Thornton Parks and Recreation Department, we reached an agreement to access several high school courts for USTA league play this season. It took five years to accomplish this with our local school district,” says Lou.

Not coincidentally, this happened around the same time when Lou was ramping up his involvement around court access. He says, “I unofficially began this process five years ago when the Thornton Tennis Association nearly had to turn away a new 4.0 men’s team because of limited court availability. As a member, I presented options to the board, and the board acted to resolve the issue for that team.” Since then, Lou has served as a liaison for the TTA working with various city entities to ensure there are sufficient courts in Thornton.

Being part of the USTA L.E.A.D Initiative means that Lou is gaining valuable insight on ways to further his involvement with the growth of tennis in Thornton. The program is a small, intentional cohort of CTA leaders from the across the country who take part in virtual learning sessions covering topics such as leadership, governance, fundraising, volunteer engagement and inclusive community growth. Representatives are also given individual and group assignments designed to help them apply each session in their own community.

“The experience has been eye-opening,” says Lou. “The USTA has put real resources behind creating growth opportunities for CTAs. It is a sophisticated boot camp designed to help expand tennis across the country. There is incredible diversity of community tennis associations across the country, with memberships ranging from hundreds to thousands and operating budgets and responsibilities that vary widely, yet we all share common challenges, including board capacity and retaining enough volunteers to support meaningful engagement with both current and potential tennis communities.” 

Lou will wrap up his time with the USTA L.E.A.D Initiative next month at an in-person capstone experience in New York City, including the opportunity to volunteer at Arthur Ashe Kidsʼ Day during the US Open. He says “I am most looking forward to meeting everyone in person and strengthening the relationships we have built during this journey. We will continue leaning on one another as we work to move each of our tennis communities forward.”

“Playing an active role in tennis in my community means a lot to me as I am proof positive that tennis is a sport for life,” says Lou. I still play four USTA adult leagues each year – Men’s 18+, 40+, 65+ and Twilight – and enjoy them all. My favorite story from this year was when I hit a strong down the line winner in a match, my partner who is in his 40s said “nice shot young man”. I responded “Yeah, I feel 50 years old again!”

When Lou is not on the court or working towards getting more court access for Thornton, he spends his times as a shaman, energy worker, and president of the Mile High Dowsers. Lou says his goal is to help get an indoor tennis facility built in Thornton. With the positive energy that Lou naturally has combined with his passion, ability to bring people together and his newfound knowledge as part of the USTA L.E.A.D Initiative, it wouldn’t be a surprise if his goal becomes a reality!

MidFirst Bank is the largest privately owned bank in the nation and this combination of size and private ownership provides our customers with a special brand of banking. We are a strong supporter of the communities we serve, investing time and money in important educational, charitable and civic organizations. Our volunteerism is powered by our employees from all of the communities in which we live and share with our customers. MidFirst Bank is a proud partner of USTA Colorado.