Andy Stoll first experienced tennis as an 8-year-old kid in Barbados. There, he took lessons at the courts next to his school.

 

“I don’t know what it was exactly, but I loved it,” he said. “I just liked being on the court.”

 

Four-plus decades later, Stoll is still wrapped up in the game.

 

The head instructor for the National Tennis Junior and Learning (NJTL) of Trenton, Stoll finds ways each day to share his love for tennis. He’s heavily involved with NJTL of Trenton’s community programs, which provides free services to nearly 3,000 under-resourced kids in and around the city.

 

Stoll has worked with the organization for 10 years, and spends his time connecting with kids about tennis and life lessons.

 

Because Stoll lives in Trenton with his family and spends so much time getting to know the youth around him, it’s easy for him to connect with the kids he coaches. ADVERTISEMENT Participants come from many backgrounds, with Hispanic and African American communities taking up a large majority.

 

He doesn't care who he's coaching. He just requires that they want to learn and have a good time.

 

“We have great kids, but they don’t always come from family-focused households,” Stoll said. “I like being a father figure to some of them and being a positive influence in their lives.”

 

Interested in more about coaching? Find it here.