Q&A: Coach Thiago Santos brings experience, positivity to Genesis Overland Park

In celebration of National Hispanic Heritage Month taking place Sept. 15 to Oct. 15 in the United States, USTA Missouri Valley is highlighting tennis coach Thiago Santos.

Thiago Santos came to the U.S. from Maringa, Brazil to play tennis at Wichita State University. He went on to earn ATP Tour points playing doubles at a professional level. Santos’ experience eventually led to him becoming the regional director of adult tennis at Genesis Overland Park and national director of Cardio Tennis.

His positivity and passion for the sport is radiant and has made him a favorite among students and peers alike. Here, Santos dives into the history of his ever-evolving tennis career, shares some favorite memories and offers sage advice to players considering a tennis teaching career.

What is your tennis background?

I’ve been playing tennis since the age of 4. My father, Gil, got myself and my siblings involved in the sport at an early age. I grew up in Brazil, and since I was 9 years old I competed in various junior tournaments at different levels, including nationals.

What brought you to the U.S. from Brazil?

I moved to the United States at the age of 19 when I was recruited to play college tennis for Wichita State University. I played there all my four years on a scholarship. I’ve been living in Kansas since then, which is now a little over 20 years. After many years of student visas, work visas and obtaining a green card, I am now an American citizen.

How long have you been a teaching pro, and what do you love about it?

I’ve been in the tennis industry ever since I graduated from college—16 years. However, I used to coach some back in Brazil before I moved to the U.S. My job has changed and evolved over the years with Genesis Health Clubs. For my first several years, I used to be on court full time, and I loved the feeling of being able to help someone improve (and) make a difference.

Over the years, my job has evolved to the leadership/management level, where I spend most of my days off the court. But my passion continues to be the same—making a difference in people’s lives through our sport. What drives me every day is to grow our game of tennis and touch as many lives as possible.

Do you play in any USTA Leagues or tournaments?

I used to be a very active tennis player as an adult after college. I played several USTA open tournaments, all in doubles. At some point, I won six Gold Balls playing at nationals in 30+, men’s doubles and mixed doubles. I have not competed over the last few years since COVID, but I still feel like I have some left to leave it on the court. I dream of a comeback year to perhaps close my competitive career on my own terms.