BERT COLE NAMED PRO OF THE YEAR

Bert Cole, of Arlington, Texas, has been named PTR Professional of the Year.  A longtime advocate of tennis and education, Cole has devoted decades to children through the NJTL program. 

Since 2002, Cole has served her community as the Director of Junior Recreation of the Dallas Tennis Association.  It is estimated that she touches the lives of more than 20,000 children every year by partnering with area organizations including parks and recreation departments, school districts, Junior League and the Police Athletic Leagues (PAL) of Dallas and Irvine.  Cole’s credo is the importance of guiding children to know who they are, where they come from and where they’re headed, as well as teaching them the importance of giving back to others and their community.  "I love my work, and as much as it seems that I am giving to children, in truth they are giving me far more," said Cole.

Cole serves on the USTA National Schools Committee and is the Chair of the Schools/After Schools/NJTL Committees for USTA Texas.  For the 10 years, Cole has been working with human rights groups as well.

She was inducted into the Texas Black Sports Hall of Fame and the T Bar M Racquet Club Hall of Fame.  She received the USTA Texas Lloyd Sessions Educational Merit Award, NJTL Founders Service Award, and was named PTR Texas Member of the Year.  A teaching pro and player, Cole has been a head coach and director of tennis, but mostly, she is an advocate for children and the growth of the game.

PTR is the largest global organization of tennis teaching professionals with more than 16,000 members in 131 countries.  It has the greatest percentage of multicultural and women members of any such organization.  PTR is dedicated to educating, certifying and serving tennis teachers and coaches around the world in order to grow the game.