Jill Kunkel Set to Step into USTA St. Louis Executive Director Position

Kunkel said Vassar has had a big impact on her and the St. Louis tennis community at-large. Vassar helped groom Kunkel for the position, and Kunkel called Vassar a “great leader and great mentor to me for the last couple years.” Kunkel used the word “transparent” to describe both Vassar’s leadership style as well as her own.

“I have a lot of leadership skills. I feel like I’m super transparent and fair, and you really have to be in this role,” Kunkel said. “Leagues are really at the heart of our whole District. So understanding the core driver — since I was responsible for that — just makes it a good transition. I know the grassroots of it.”

Kunkel is no stranger to running an organization. Prior to her time with USTA, she worked in the technology industry and built her own consulting business. She operated that for about 15 years. The more she got involved with USTA, though, the more that business took a backseat to Kunkel working toward one day becoming executive director.

“Now I’m working in a field of my passion, and it doesn’t even feel like work,” Kunkel said. “I guess I could say I retired from the corporate world. More than ever — actually managing through Covid with the leagues and everything — it’s really turned more into a business I feel than just a recreational sport.”

Kunkel articulated there are three major pillars of responsibility in the executive director post with different individuals under her driving those initiatives. First, there is adult programming, with adult leagues and tournaments the major players there. Kunkel is handing over the adult league coordinator reins to Severine Huchet. As with Kunkel’s progression, Huchet most recently served as the 40 & Over league coordinator.

Next is juniors, with tournaments and Junior Team Tennis major pegs on that front. Kunkel will be closely working with Carobeth Kelly, junior competition coordinator, and Toni McDonald, JTT coordinator. Third is community, with outreach to grow the game and grant programs central components of USTA’s mission. Michael Marotta, USTA St. Louis and USTA Missouri tennis service rep, is the point-person there.

It’s this third area that Kunkel highlighted multiple times as a potential opportunity for advancement. She said identifying individuals and organizations wanting to try the sport or get more involved in it will be a focal point at the outset of her tenure.

“There are so many new people coming into the sport. I’m most excited about just providing opportunity to them — if it’s at the junior level, adult level, through more tournaments,” Kunkel said. “Just providing more opportunities for people to play organized tennis."

“I really want to re-establish the understanding of organizations that are driving tennis community programs. We have the same handful we’ve been working with, and I know there are so many more. There’s great opportunity to expand our community outreach by doing a little legwork and research around the landscape of the St. Louis tennis community. And I think it’s really changed a lot.”

Kunkel — a huge sports fan who listed the St. Louis Cardinals and Kansas City Chiefs as her favorite teams — has three daughters, Katy, Nora and Jessica, as well as two grandchildren, Brady and Skye. Vassar is confident Kunkel is prepared and well-equipped for her new job.

“Jill is upbeat, friendly and a positive person,” Vassar said. “Her creative and innovative nature will serve the District well. With the help and support of the USTA St. Louis Board of Directors and staff, the future of local tennis is in good hands.”