Q&A with Elizabeth Deerinwater for Coach Appreciation Month

My face hurt from smiling and all the laughter. I was hooked. I set up a meeting with the director of the program and started volunteer coaching two days a week at the park.

It wasn’t until I moved to Austin, Texas that I truly became a coach. I was working with World TeamTennis when I met Carol Welder. She encouraged me to get involved in Austin Tennis, and I was then elected to the Capital Area Tennis Association, our CTA in Austin. I owe Carol Welder a huge bit of thanks—because of her and being on the CATA board, I began my journey into being a certified tennis professional.

Michael MacVay, who was the director of the largest junior program in Austin, was looking for a coach and Carol made sure we were introduced. Mike took me under his wing, mentored me and gave me my first coaching job in Texas. When I left Austin, he made me promise to never stop coaching, and that’s a promise I don’t intend to break. Thanks to some amazing tennis groups, I’ve learned from some of the best coaches in the world.

What do you love most about coaching?

As cheesy as it sounds, I can’t think of one thing I don’t love about it. It’s even hard to narrow it down to best moments or favorite things. I have always taken the approach that being part of a player’s journey, no matter what their goals are or their age, is a privilege. I love the challenge of finding just the right way to communicate with a player to help them learn.

I have cried on court with an adult player who wept when things finally clicked for them. I’ve been there with junior athletes as they walked off the court in tears due to a loss. Celebrating with our Junior Team Tennis teams as they’ve won sectionals. These are some of my most treasured experiences.

Every coach pours their time, energy and knowledge into players. We give them our support and encouragement, we push them and we see athletes at their most vulnerable moments. I will never take that for granted.

What programming are you currently working on, and where?

Right now, I’m helping beginners—kiddos and adults—develop their game. I’m also teaching my husband how to play, a true test of my skills. In addition to that, I’m also the junior competition coordinator for USTA Heart of America and run a few tournaments within the district.

How’d you get involved with USTA Coaching, and what does that entail?

Being a serve and lead ambassador gives me an opportunity to share my passion for coaching and tennis with other coaches and those considering a career in coaching. USTA Coaching is such an amazing program. For as many years as I’ve been coaching there has been a need to develop a standard for coaching.

USTA Coaching is striving toward just that: a standard of excellence for coaches, one that ensures coaches are qualified and, more importantly, safe. Being a certified tennis coach isn’t a prerequisite to being a great coach. It shows a dedication to learning, ensures that coaches have passed a thorough background check and are insured—things I believe are vital when selecting a coach.

The USTA Coaching program provides knowledge from some of the top coaches in the country, but not at a price that would be a barrier to certification for coaches just beginning their journey. The program also has free memberships with quality, free resources to encourage everyone to get involved in their athletes’ journeys.

I can’t wait to see the next generation of coaches developed from this program. And continue learning and developing my own skills as part of my membership. It’s a great time to get involved and learn from some of the best coaches on the planet.

Check out additional Coach Appreciation Month feature stories from across USTA Missouri Valley by clicking here. Learn more about USTA Coaching by clicking here.