West N.

About Me

“First the smile, then the good tennis … not the good tennis, then the smile.” Hi, my name is West and I am in my eighth season as the associate head coach for the University of Southern California women’s tennis team. I have coached four women to be no. 1 in the NCAA, coached a doubles team to be NCAA champions in 2013, led USC to three PAC-12 team championships, and coached players Nicole Gibbs (two-time NCAA singles champion) and Maria Sanchez (career-high 105 WTA ranking). As a player I was the U.S. national junior champion, U.S. mother-son doubles champion, fifth in all-time career wins at Georgia Tech in just three seasons, a Davis Cup player, and I recently captured the U.S. Open mixed doubles SoCal playoffs with Kaitlyn Christian.

Teaching Style

Every lesson is unique. I do not have a cookie-cutter approach. I want to help develop your thinking skills on the court so you can apply it to stacking the odds in your favor when it comes to competing. I have worked with all levels, so I am highly qualified to adapt to every situation and help you avoid "herd mentality" or limited thinking to hold you back. Tennis should be natural and allows you the ability to use your mind to get the result you want. I have experimented with every grip, technique, and playing style; been in high stress situations in competition; and hit against some of the best players in the world, so I can properly tell you whether something is helpful or not, immediately. One lesson a week or month is good enough, and then it is your job to practice what I have taught and think for yourself. The real world (like a tennis match) is random and changing; you need the tools to think on your toes and adapt. Here is an article I wrote called "500 Sets Per Year:" http://www.tennisrecruiting.net/article.asp?id=1502

Teaching Locations = Travel Radius = Preferred Court