Serving Love: How Brittany Odom and Dennis Quaye Lead With Heart
Tennis brought Brittany Odom and Dennis Quaye together, but love, service and shared purpose have sustained them for more than 15 years. As a USTA Coaching Serve & Lead coaching couple, their story is a fitting celebration of Valentine’s Day, rooted in partnership and giving back.
How It All Started: From D.C. to “Dennis Tennis”
Odom and Quaye met in Washington, D.C., in 2009, shortly after graduating from college. Their first date, a basketball game, set the tone for a relationship built around sports, movement and shared experiences.
Originally from Detroit, Odom says, “Growing up, I didn’t have much exposure to tennis, other than watching the Williams sisters play on TV.” Quaye, on the other hand, grew up playing tennis in Ghana before moving to the United States at age 14 and continuing his competitive career in Virginia and at Virginia Commonwealth University.
Quaye introduced Odom to the sport, and she quickly fell in love with it, not just for the fitness, but for the social connection and fun. Over time, tennis became a family affair, especially once the couple had children.
A Tennis Family – and a Shared Mission
Today, Quaye and Odom have three children (ages 14, 12, and 9), and they all play tennis. That family connection to the sport inspired them to think bigger.
In 2022, Quaye and Odom founded Dennis Tennis Serving Love, a nonprofit dedicated to making tennis accessible to children in low-income communities. Their programs are always free, supported by partnerships with organizations including the USTA Foundation and the USTA’s Florida section.
“Our goal is access,” Odom says. “We want kids to experience the benefits of tennis – physically, mentally and socially – whether or not they can afford private lessons.” The couple often refer to their nonprofit as their “fourth baby,” reflecting just how central it is to their family life.
Quaye’s Journey: From Player to Coach
Quaye began playing tennis at age five, trained formally through his early teens and went on to win state championships in high school before earning a college scholarship as a student-athlete. Like many competitive players, he stepped away from the sport after college, pursuing other professional paths before eventually returning to tennis.
Now a full-time coach and facility manager, Quaye sees coaching as a way to give back the lessons tennis gave him. “Tennis opened doors for me – education, opportunity, discipline,” he says. “Now I want to create those same opportunities for kids who might not otherwise have them.”
Coaching and Growing Together
While Quaye coaches professionally, Odom serves as a community coach through their nonprofit. She credits USTA Coaching with helping her grow into that role.
“The online resources, drills and educational tools have been invaluable,” she says. “USTA Coaching creates pathways not just for professionals, but for parents and community leaders who want to make an impact.”
Both Odom and Quaye value continuous education and collaboration, emphasizing that great coaching, like a great partnership, requires humility and openness. “Being willing to learn from others makes us all better,” Quaye says. “That mindset applies in coaching and in marriage.”
Advice for Coaches: Keep Learning, Keep Adapting
When asked what advice they’d give fellow coaches, both Odom and Quaye emphasized the same core idea: never stop learning. The game evolves. Teaching styles change. Athletes come from increasingly diverse backgrounds.
“Be flexible,” Odom says. “Be open to new ideas. And don’t be afraid to adapt your approach to meet people where they are.”
Looking Ahead: Expanding Impact
Quaye and Odom plan to expand their nonprofit’s reach beyond Broward County and introduce new initiatives, including college scholarships for student-athletes.
Through it all, tennis remains their shared outlet – a stress reliever, a family bond and a tool for change. For Brittany Odom and Dennis Quaye, serving love isn’t just a Valentine’s Day sentiment. It’s a way of life.
