Tracy Housden, a Berkeley County youth tennis coach for TGA of West Virginia, an after school and out of school time tennis program from USTA Mid-Atlantic Section, was named the TGA Premier Sports Tennis Coach of the Year at the TGA Premier Sports Summit last month.

 

Housden is a substitute teacher in Berkeley County, coach of the Spring Mills H.S. girls’ tennis team, tennis director for Berkeley County Parks and Recreation and for three years has coached youngsters through the TGA youth sports tennis program run by USTA Mid-Atlantic.  These programs introduce children to tennis in enriching environments that help them get physically active while pairing character building and STEM concepts with the sport. In West Virginia during 2018, there were nearly 700 registered for the after school and summer camp programs offered.

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She has been instrumental in recruiting coaches, growing participation and programs, and impacting hundreds of youth through her coaching and work with TGA of West Virginia.

 

“Tennis coaches like Tracy are by far the most important part of our tennis program,” said Kyle Hoffman, associate director of recreation programs for USTA MAS and chapter director for TGA of West Virginia. “She always steps up and goes the extra mile for the program, parents, and students by being generous with her time and leads by example. We are honored to have Tracy represent the USTA MAS and TGA as coach of the year.”

 

Housden was one of the first coaches to join the new after school and out of school time programs from USTA Mid-Atlantic nearly three years ago when it began. The developers of TGA’s youth sports model, which specializes in introductory sports/tennis programs while merging academics with the sport, credit the tireless work of its more than 2,200 youth sports coaches nationwide for its success. The TGA Coach of the Year award recognizes the best within the TGA family.

 

Coaches were nominated by their Chapter Director, fellow coaches, and by students/parents who have been impacted through TGA Premier Sports programs. Tracy was recognized for running high-quality programs, making a lasting-impressions on participants, championing TGA’s values and incorporating innovative coaching.

 

Housden has left a memorable impact on the families she works with according to testimonials from parents of students she has introduced to the game.

 

“I love coach Tracy and the program!” one parent said.

“We had a wonderful experience and we are definitely going to do it again!” said another.

“Having such friendly coaches like Tracy made the experience so enjoyable,” said yet another.

 

Housden has been instrumental in helping build tennis in the eastern panhandle of West Virginia. Historically, the area has had very few tennis programs and has long been a bedroom community to existing tennis areas around them. She grew up playing tennis in Berkeley County and currently has a daughter enrolled in a TGA program presented at their local middle school.

 

“I am honored to be selected for coach of the year for TGA,” Housden said. “It has been an amazing experience to be part of this program, watching it grow, and seeing first-hand how sports like tennis change lives.”

 

The Berkeley County School Board will recognize Tracy at their meeting on Monday, Jan. 14, 2019.

 

Watch a video about Tracy Housden and her Coach of the Year award.

 

Learn more about USTA Mid-Atlantic after school and out of school tennis enrichment programs.