Congratulations to Paul for receiving the USTA Midwest Section's most prestigious award, the Mel Bergman Award, which is given in recognition of continuous and distinguished service to the Section in an unselfish, dedicated manner for ten years or more!
Paul is a graduate of DePaul University where he played collegiate tennis and was coached by Wimbledon champion and International Tennis Hall of Fame member, George Lott.
He has coached all ages and levels from beginners to NCAA Division I All-Americans. Paul has been recognized and chosen to be a USTA midwest zonal coach, a competitive training center head coach, a USTA Midwest Sectional Training Camp coach and a USTA Regional Training Center coach. He is the USTA/Midwest Boys 18s team coach, which is the two-time defending National Champion at the USTA National Boys 18s Team Championship.
Paul is a former president of the Chicago District Tennis Association (CDTA), is co-chair of the USTA Midwest Junior Pathway committee, and is a member of the USTA National Junior Competition committee.
He is a frequent speaker at the USPTA Midwest Convention and an 11-time presenter at the USPTA World Conference. Paul also was co-director of the USPTA School of Pro Shop Management and co-author, with Klaus Hilgers, of six tennis management books.
National Certification and Awards:
• Member of the USPTA Midwest Hall of Fame
• Graduate of the USTA High Performance Coaching Program
• Two time Chicago Tournament Director of the Year
• Illinois USPTA Tennis Professional of the Year
• USTA Level 1 Sport Science Competency Test
• USTA Level 2 Sports Medicine/Biomechanics
• USTA Certified 10 and Under Coach
• USTA Midwest Volunteer of the Month
• German Tennis Federation Tennis Teaching License
• German Tennis Federation Chair Umpire License
• The Vic Braden Tennis Academy, Advanced Tennis Teaching Academy
• Great Base Certified
John grew up in Muskegon, Michigan and became captain and MVP of the Kalamazoo College Tennis Team. While playing for Kalamazoo, he earned conference player of the year and the conference sportsmanship award. After college he was a high school coach and the college men’s varsity tennis coach at the University of Toledo, Ohio.
He is recognized as one of the best junior coaches in the country with 15 of his students winning more than 20 national championships, with four holding the number one National USTA year end rankings. Fifty of his students received college tennis scholarships.
John’s top three students who he coached from 10 and under up to professional players are: Aaron Krickstein, who ranked professionally as high as number 6 in the world; Amy Frazier, who ranked professionally as high as 13 in the world; and Laura Granville, who ranked professionally as high as 28 in the world and won two NCAA singles championships while attending Stanford University. All three have been ranked number one by the USTA.
John was previously tennis director at the Franklin Racquet Club, Southfield, MI; tennis director at Mid-Town Tennis Club, Chicago, IL; and general manager at the Racquet Club of Lake Bluff.
National Certification and Awards:
• USPTA Michigan Tennis Professional of the Year
• South East Michigan Tournament Director of the Year
Ritchie attended Lewis University on a tennis scholarship and earned a Bachelor of Science degree in biology and psychology. He played number one singles and doubles, was MVP all four years and an All Academic and All Conference tennis player finishing with a 103-56 record. He holds two USTA men’s open championship titles, six USTA junior doubles and singles titles and a USTA Illinois state league championship title.
Ritchie entered the corporate world and earned a Master’s degree in computer science with a concentration in human-computer interaction from DePaul University. He became a computer usability test consultant for Accenture in Phoenix, Arizona and worked with clients including Microsoft and Cigna Healthcare. After working in Arizona for several years, he decided to return to the game he loves.
Ritchie was previously a tennis professional at the Oakbrook Tennis Center, Downers Grove Swim and Racquet Club and assistant varsity coach for Downers Grove North High School. He also has ran cardio tennis and coordinated team tennis leagues for Sports Monster Corporation, now the Chicago Sport and Social Club.
Ritchie loves that tennis continues to evolve. He understands the best coaches never stop learning about themselves, their students and life off the court. He is an excellent teacher for the Great Base, beginners and advanced players.
National Certification and Awards:
• USTA Certified Ten and Under Coach
• American Sport Education Program (ASEP) Certified
• Advisory Staff for Wilson Sporting Goods
• Great Base Certified
Michael Wallace grew up on the south side of Chicago and played number one singles and doubles on a full tennis scholarship at the University of Alabama, Birmingham. He has a wealth of tennis knowledge and experience and is a pioneer in 10 and Under Tennis.
After competing in college and on the pro circuit, Michael was a tennis professional in Alabama. He was the first director of player development for the USTA Southern Section. He worked at Wilson Sporting Goods Co. where he was the global tour director and selected, recruited and managed relationships with more than 2,000 top 200 tour players. He has worked with professional players including Venus and Serena Williams and Roger Federer.
National Certification and Awards:
• United States Tennis Association National Clinician
• National Advisory Staff and Speakers Bureau for Wilson Sporting Goods Co.
• Tennis Professional of the Year, USPTA Georgia
• Alabama State Mixed Doubles Champion
• USTA Southern Section Men's 25 Doubles Champion
• USTA Southern Section Men's 35 Doubles Champion