In Her Own Words

Tennis has taken me to many incredible places. When I returned home to Pittsburgh, I began coaching high school and inner-city tennis programs. I also had the opportunity to work with Rick Macci during Nike Tennis Camps here in Pittsburgh.

When I later stepped away from tennis to raise a family, I didn’t realize how much I’d miss it. When I returned to coaching in 2011 at USCTDP under Janice Irwin, the game had changed. We were now teaching with the ROGY format (Red, Orange, Green, Yellow), size-appropriate courts, and new equipment. Janice connected me with Marcy Bruce (former high school teammate), who became a mentor and introduced me to modern coaching methods. I loved it! The new approach made tennis more accessible and fun for everyone, opening doors for so many who might never have picked up a racquet before.

Marcy brought in Mike Barrell to help our program grow, and I fell in love with his coaching philosophy. I even started the Tennis Whizz concept alongside Cardio Tennis, allowing parents to play while their kids learned on the next court.

From there, I began volunteering with the USTA Middle States Allegheny Mountain District (AMD) Council. Working with Kelle Cunningham and Aldene LaCaria, we restructured and revitalized the district. Volunteering quickly became one of the most rewarding parts of my career from helping organize workshops to coaching at Early Development Camps.

During the COVID years, I was offered the position of Head Men’s and Women’s Tennis Coach at Washington & Jefferson College. It was an amazing opportunity. I wanted to give my players a chance to experience tennis beyond competition, so I encouraged them to get certified and coach youth at the LeMoyne Center, Western PA’s first NJTL site, which Kelle Cunningham and I helped establish. We even hosted the first-ever USTA coaching workshop on a college campus.

During my time there, my friend and mentor John DeLaura helped me navigate the college coaching landscape. With his guidance, I participated in NCAA committees and even served as a Site Administrator for two NCAA Championships at CMU.

Today, I’m the Head Rackets Pro at Mt. Lebanon Tennis Center (since May 2025), where I’m focused on building strong programs for both juniors and adults. Looking forward to building a strong tennis community and bringing back lots of memorable tennis experiences, one of which is the Futures Pro Tournament!