Lincoln's Rick Harley built his own tennis court — and still competes in his 80s
Many people in the Lincoln community know Rick Harley. Either as a former tennis and golf coach at Nebraska Wesleyan University, a family practitioner or the guy who built a full-size tennis court in his yard.
Now in his 80s, Harley continues to play tennis, even singles matches, and is a National Senior Games competitor.
The Nebraska Senior Games are coming up on Aug. 5-9. The tennis competition, which includes singles, doubles and mixed doubles divisions, is taking place indoors at Ernest Grundy Tennis Center in Kearney.
Harley has played in the Nebraska Senior Games three times and the National Senior Games twice, in Florida and Iowa. Last year when the National Senior Games were held in Des Moines, he placed third in 80 & Over singles and third in 75 & Over doubles.
“My experiences playing in the NSGs — both state and nationals — have been a lot of fun,” he said. “Especially at nationals meeting players from other parts of the country and getting to play against many different styles of tennis.
“Last year my singles matches were all inside a beautiful facility. One drawback was I played five days in a row at 7:30 a.m. One nice aspect of the format was everyone continued to play every day, win or lose.”
Growing up in Grand Island, Neb., Harley said there were no tennis teaching pros and not many courts. When he was introduced to the sport in a P.E. class, he took to it right away.
He and a couple friends decided they would be tennis players. They read some books and basically learned the sport on their own. After playing in the top singles spot in high school, Harley lettered at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.
Rick Harley still plays on the tennis court he built decades ago, which helped him fine-tune his game for a pair of bronze medals at the 2025 National Senior Games.
With the aid of his late friend, Chuck Newman, Rick Harley constructed a tennis court in his yard in 1981. Harley's daughter now owns the house and court.
- Rick Harley still plays on the tennis court he built decades ago, which helped him fine-tune his game for a pair of bronze medals at the 2025 National Senior Games.
- With the aid of his late friend, Chuck Newman, Rick Harley constructed a tennis court in his yard in 1981. Harley's daughter now owns the house and court.
“At UNL I saw a notice in the ‘Rag’ that the tennis team was holding tryouts,” he said. “I went, was told to go hit with some players and that was it.
“However, the next day one of the players we defeated in doubles said, ‘The coach said you should come back.’ Freshmen could not play varsity, but my last three years I played No. 4, No. 3 and finally No. 2.”
When he finished his medical internship in the 1970s, Harley looked for a house that had a yard big enough to build a tennis court. That dream became a reality in 1981. He sold that house to his daughter, but he still plays on it several times a week.
“A friend of mine, an orthopedist named Dr. Chuck Newman, had a hobby of big equipment,” Harley said. “He contoured the side area using a backhoe and transit. He did a great job for free. He died shortly thereafter at age 42. Thus, I usually consider the court his memorial.”
Though Harley didn’t start playing in USTA leagues until his 50s, he has been to the section championships and nationals many times, first as a 4.5, then as a 4.0 and now as a 3.5.
He encouraged others to consider playing in the Nebraska Senior Games. Individuals who compete in the Nebraska Senior Games this summer will have an opportunity to qualify for the 2027 National Senior Games, which take place in Tulsa, Okla. Learn more about qualifying here.
Check out additional USTA Nebraska news and feature stories here.
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