Net Gains – Coaches Reveal Their Game-Changing Goals for 2026
As the calendar turns to a new year, the court is clear for setting ambitious goals and refining your coaching philosophy. Whether you're guiding a beginner at your local court, mentoring high school champions or traveling the pro tour, the drive to improve – both for your players and for your own professional growth – is universal.
From leveraging the latest sports science to prioritizing mental wellness and lifelong player development across the lifespan, coaches are redefining what success looks like.
What new strategies are you adding to your playbook? We surveyed a variety of tennis coaches to find out what's topping their list for the upcoming year. Get ready to rethink your routine, enhance your skill set and make 2026 your most impactful coaching season yet.
Erin Wilson
Tennis Professional at DragonRidge Country Club
Las Vegas, Nevada
1. Continue to grow my junior program and guide the younger generation with my experience as well as learn new things from them.
2. Create something special with adult tennis! I’m not sure what yet, but I want to continue to grow in that area.
Continue to grow my junior program and guide the younger generation with my experience as well as learn new things from them.
Create something special with adult tennis! I’m not sure what yet, but I want to continue to grow in that area.
Travel and shadow some of the top tennis coaches and directors.
Run a women-focused retreat or conference here in Las Vegas similar to the one I was able to attend and speak at in Denver, Col.
3. Travel and shadow some of the top tennis coaches and directors.
4. Run a women-focused retreat or conference here in Las Vegas similar to the one I was able to attend and speak at in Denver, Col.
Tony Mulé
Director of Junior Tennis at GTP Foundation
Greensboro, North Carolina
1. Strengthen coaching excellence to amplify Greensboro Tennis Program (GTP) Foundation’s mission. Develop and implement a coaching framework customized for our programs.
2. Deepen capacity to coach in community-impact settings. Strengthen my ability to coach effectively within diverse community environments. Integrate new methods into coaching sessions to improve participant outcomes in areas such as resilience, confidence, communication and goal-setting.
1. Strengthen coaching excellence to amplify Greensboro Tennis Program (GTP) Foundation’s mission. Develop and implement a coaching framework customized for our programs.
2. Deepen capacity to coach in community-impact settings. Strengthen my ability to coach effectively within diverse community environments. Integrate new methods into coaching sessions to improve participant outcomes in areas such as resilience, confidence, communication and goal-setting.
3. Personal goal: Sustain energy to support high-impact work. Build a routine that ensures I can show up with clarity and presence in service of GTP’s mission. Prioritize restorative habits (sleep, injury prevention, exercise, recovery methods) to avoid burnout and injury.
3. Personal goal: Sustain energy to support high-impact work. Build a routine that ensures I can show up with clarity and presence in service of GTP’s mission. Prioritize restorative habits (sleep, injury prevention, exercise, recovery methods) to avoid burnout and injury.
Larry Dillon
Director Owner of Tennis & Technology, President/Founder of Sports, for Life! Foundation, USTA Eastern Clinician & USTA National Trainer
New York City Metropolitan Area
1. Program Expansion and Community Impact – To expand high-quality municipal tennis programs, driving youth development and local job creation.
1. Program Expansion and Community Impact – To expand high-quality municipal tennis programs, driving youth development and local job creation.
2. Strategic State-Level Infrastructure and Policy Integration – To capitalize on an exciting new partnership with the incoming state administration to make New Jersey one of the nation’s premier states for tennis.
3. Talent Pipeline Mentorship and Leadership Succession – To formalize and develop my personal mentorship program to find the next generation of talented tennis leaders and help them start their own successful community programs.
2. Strategic State-Level Infrastructure and Policy Integration – To capitalize on an exciting new partnership with the incoming state administration to make New Jersey one of the nation’s premier states for tennis.
3. Talent Pipeline Mentorship and Leadership Succession – To formalize and develop my personal mentorship program to find the next generation of talented tennis leaders and help them start their own successful community programs.
Eduardo Rincon
Director of Tennis at Hidden Valley Country Club
Salem, Virginia
1. Continue growing and expanding the HVCC tennis programs while promoting the sport throughout the surrounding community.
1. Continue growing and expanding the HVCC tennis programs while promoting the sport throughout the surrounding community.
2. Further develop my coaching skills to better serve students and enhance their overall experience.
3. Ensure I maintain adequate time off to sustain strong energy, focus and momentum across all my projects.
2. Further develop my coaching skills to better serve students and enhance their overall experience.
3. Ensure I maintain adequate time off to sustain strong energy, focus and momentum across all my projects.
Koua Yang
Athletic Director at Como Park Senior High, Founder of Community Tennis League, Co-Founder of Como Tennis Club
St. Paul, Minnesota
1. Recruit, train and mentor the next generation of tennis coaches. I’m the district-wide Athletic Director in charge of tennis in St. Paul, and will use my network with the coaches in the city and state coaches’ association to develop a young and diverse pool of coaches.
1. Recruit, train and mentor the next generation of tennis coaches. I’m the district-wide Athletic Director in charge of tennis in St. Paul, and will use my network with the coaches in the city and state coaches’ association to develop a young and diverse pool of coaches.
2. One of my lifelong goals is to create more access to tennis with communities that do not have the traditional navigation nor resources. One solution we have developed is the creation of our own local tennis programming called Como Tennis Club. Our mission is to grow the game of tennis in underserved communities.
2. One of my lifelong goals is to create more access to tennis with communities that do not have the traditional navigation nor resources. One solution we have developed is the creation of our own local tennis programming called Como Tennis Club. Our mission is to grow the game of tennis in underserved communities.
Marsten "Marty" Anderson
Wheelchair Tennis Coach / President of Adaptive Athletics Association
Roseville, California
1. Build a Consistent Athlete Development Framework – Create and implement a structured coaching plan that includes goal-setting sessions, skill-level assessments and individualized progression paths for each athlete. Review progress quarterly to ensure that athletes, regardless of disability type, are receiving tailored support and measurable growth opportunities.
1. Build a Consistent Athlete Development Framework – Create and implement a structured coaching plan that includes goal-setting sessions, skill-level assessments and individualized progression paths for each athlete. Review progress quarterly to ensure that athletes, regardless of disability type, are receiving tailored support and measurable growth opportunities.
2. Expand Coaching Education and Certification – Commit to completing at least one advanced coaching certification or adaptive sports specific training program this year. Apply the new knowledge directly by updating coaching methods, integrating adaptive equipment training, or introducing new techniques that improve athlete safety, performance and confidence.
3. Strengthen Community and Multi-Sport Collaboration – Develop partnerships with other adaptive sports organizations, coaches or community programs. The goal is to share resources, co-host training sessions or workshops and provide athletes with more varied opportunities such as cross-training, mentorship connections or exposure to different adaptive sports.
2. Expand Coaching Education and Certification – Commit to completing at least one advanced coaching certification or adaptive sports specific training program this year. Apply the new knowledge directly by updating coaching methods, integrating adaptive equipment training, or introducing new techniques that improve athlete safety, performance and confidence.
3. Strengthen Community and Multi-Sport Collaboration – Develop partnerships with other adaptive sports organizations, coaches or community programs. The goal is to share resources, co-host training sessions or workshops and provide athletes with more varied opportunities such as cross-training, mentorship connections or exposure to different adaptive sports.
