Richmond Area Tennis Instructors
For contact information on area clubs, visit the court locator page. By placing a call to a facility near you, you should be able to find additional information on instructors, clinics and lessons. Note: The RTA does not employ tennis instructors and cannot make specific recommendations.
Tennis Professionals: Email us at contact@richmondtennis.org with your information if you would like to be included on this list. RTA reserves the right to make final decisions on content for inclusion.
Near the City
CARL CLARK, Head Tennis Professional, Country Club of Virginia
Carl has been the Head Professional at CCV since 1998. Among his many achievements: Former #1 player at the University of Virginia, Former World Ranked Doubles player on the ATP Tour. Winner of 49 VA State Titles (Singles, Doubles, Mixed). Winner of 12 USTA National Titles. Winner of the USPTA National Player of the Year 2002. Treasurer, USPTA Mid-Atlantic Board 2007-08. Carl and his wife Lyn have three children: Kelsey, Hunter and Harper.
CRIS ROBINSON, Director of Tennis, Willow Oaks Country Club
Cris was born in Richmond and joined Willow Oaks in the fall of 2008 after 10 years as head of the Robious tennis program. He played tennis at Clemson University for four years, and was an All ACC Team member in 1994-95. Cris is a six-time National Amateur Champion (1993-1995), as well as the 1993 VA State Clay Court Singles Champion. With over 12 years teaching experience, he enjoys teaching all levels.
LAURA TUCHSCHERER, Tennis Professional, Willow Oaks Country Club
Laura joined the Willow Oaks tennis program in the fall of 2008 after six years with Robious. She was born in Wausau, Wisconsin, and was one of the top five Juniors in Wisconsin from 1984-1992. Her 17 years' experience includes teaching both adults and juniors at Van der Meer's, Martha's Vineyard, Salisbury Country Club and The Westwood Club.
Midlothian/Powhatan Area
TRIP BAISDEN, Director of Tennis, Midlothian Tennis Club
Trip became General Manager and Director of Tennis of MTC in 2008. In 1994, Trip came to Richmond to serve as the Director of Tennis at the Westwood Club. In 1996, he was named Richmond Tennis Association Pro of the Year. In 1997 the USTA named the Westwood Club the Virginia District Club of the Year. Trip was also the tennis pro working closely with Dennis Van Der Meer in Hilton Head, South Carolina and Assistant Men's Tennis Coach at Old Dominion University.
STUART BOWDEN, Assistant Tennis Pro, Midlothian Tennis Club
Stuart joined MTC as a tennis professional in 2009. Stuart's strengths are working with our top juniors as well as adults, beginner and intermediate players and leading our popular cardio tennis programs. Stuart hails from Lowestoft, England, where he was a junior player for the Portsmouth Tennis Academy and competed on the British junior circuit. Stuart coached top ranked juniors at the Academy. He joined the Royal Navy from 2001-2005 and played on its tennis team, traveling to Spain, South America, the Mediterranean and Africa. He holds a degree in facility management and tennis coaching from Tyler Junior College.
JOHN DINARDI, Director, Tennis Academy of VA
With over 14 years of professional experience, John DiNardi has spent much of his life immersed in tennis. His extensive background in Sports Science has helped him develop programs for both the amateur and seasoned professional. As a junior, John was consistently ranked in the top ten for the Virginia and Mid-Atlantic regions. He also spent two years as a professional tennis player. While attending Barry University in Miami, Florida, John was captain of the tennis team and deemed Most Valuable Player for the Ì93 season. John has traveled extensively throughout the United States and Japan teaching and coaching tennis. He served as the United States Tennis AssociationÌs Junior Development Coordinator for Central Pennsylvania and coached Team Scandinavia. JohnÌs Intensive Training Program is specifically designed to propel the junior player to the professional level.
ROB JOHNSTON, Tennis Pro, Midlothian Tennis Club
A Pittsburgh native, Rob played college tennis and earned a Business Administration degree from Robert Morris University. In 2008, he became Head Teaching Professional at MTC. Prior to MTC, he was Director of Tennis at Avalon Tennis Club, Assistant Women's Tennis Coach and then Head Coach at The California University of Pennsylvania and Associate Pro at Glen Creek Tennis Club in Library, Pennsylvania.
JASON KINDER, Director of Tennis, ACAC
Jason grew up playing junior tennis at Briarwood (now ACAC). He continued on to play Division I college tennis at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro where he received his B.S. in Exercise and Sports Science. After college, Jason served as Briarwood's Head Tennis Pro for 5 years. He returned to Greensboro where he was assistant men's and women's tennis coach and recruiter at the University and where he later was Director of Tennis at Sherwood Swim & Racquet Club. While there, he achieved back-to-back USTA 5.0 North Carolina State Championships and coached three State Champion USTA adult teams. Jason was appointed coach of the Southern Tennis Association's USTA Junior Zonal Teams for 2002 and 2003. Jason and his wife Cathy have a daughter, Caroline.
Al Thomas, Director of Tennis, Midlothian Athletic Club - MAC (formerly Robious Sport and Fitness)
Since living in Maryland for 26 years, Al has lived in the Richmond area for 10 years. He is the former Director of Tennis at Riverside Wellness and Fitness Center - Briarwood, and Head Tennis Professional at Willow Oaks Country Club and Salisbury Country Club. Al played #1 and #2 singles and doubles at Towson State University (Division I) where he earned All-Conference and All-Academic honors during his Junior and Senior Years. He also served as captain and remained as Assistant Coach after graduation. He has trained and coached nationally ranked juniors and adults and has competed sectionally and nationally in both singles and doubles. He is also consistently ranked in the top ten in the Mid Atlantic for Men's Open Doubles and Mixed Open Doubles. He lives in Midlothian with his wife, Traci and son, Kaden.
SCOTT STEINOUR, Director of Tennis, Salisbury Country Club
Scott played #1 singles and doubles for Old Dominion University then worked for Dennis Van Der Meer for 12 years teaching tennis in 18 different countries. He holds numerous State Hardcourt and ClayCourt Men's open doubles titles. Scott has been the Director of Tennis at Salisbury Country Club since 1998.
West End Area
MIGUEL CASTRO, Head Tennis Professional, The Westwood Club
Miguel worked as an on-court instructor for twelve years with the Parks and Recreation department in Roanoke, VA before entering a more formal teaching environment as an assistant summer pro at Hidden Valley Country Club in Salem, VA. Miquel then attended Virginia Tech, where he earned a B.S. in Mathematics, and where he worked with both the Men's and Women's Varsity Tennis teams as hitting and practice partners. After graduation, he "looked for a compass and protractor to bring me happiness as a high school geometry teacher," but found disappointment with the lack of topspin he could create from a piece of chalk and a blackboard. Since then, Miquel has served as the Resident Tennis Pro and Head of Junior Development at the Boar's Head Sports Club in Charlottesville for the past six years.
JAMIE HEVRON, Tennis Professional, Richmond Country Club
Jamie has been with RCC for 15 years. The former #3 ranked high school player in Australia played collegiate tennis at VCU, played professionally after graduating, and was world ranked by APT in 1990. He has over 30 years of playing, coaching and teaching experience, and an impressive list of wins in Virginia tournaments.
EDDIE PARKER, Director of Tennis, Raintree Swim & Racquet Club
Eddie has been in Richmond for over 18 years, and has been teaching and coaching at Raintree for the entire time. Eddie and his wife Stacy have three children: Kyle, Nicole and Kensington - all play tennis! Eddie is a USPTA P1 and PTR Pro, and is a National Tester for the PTR. He is also a certified High Performance Coach for the USTA. He enjoys coaching the Mid-Atlantic Zonal Team for the Boys and Girls 16s, and working with Richmond's top junior players. Eddie has played in two national 5.0 level tournaments. He won the Richmond City Doubles title with one of his students in 2002.
DAMIAN SANCILIO, Director of Tennis, Courtside West
Damian was a nationally ranked junior and scholarship athlete at the University of Virgnia, lettering all four years. He was the Richmond City Champion in 1984 and 2006, as the State Claycourt doubles champion in 1987. Damian coached the Kuwait National and Davis Cup tennis teams on three separate occasions for a total of 6 years beginning in 1988. Damian has been the director of Courtside since 2002. He is married to Jennifer, and has two boys - Damian and Roman.
SEAN STEINOUR, Director of Racquet Sports, The Westwood Club
Sean attended high school in South Jersey where he graduated in '89. He finished his last year of junior tennis ranked #18 in the United States. Under full scholarship, Sean played #3 singles and #1 doubles at UNC-CH, where his team won the ACC twice, and where he was partnered with Don Johnson who won doubles at Wimbledon several years later. Sean finished one year ranked #7 in NCAA. After several years of teaching at Van Der Meer on Hilton Head island and playing the satellite circuit, Sean took a staff professional position at the Westwood club in '95. Between '95 and '05, Sean has won over 25 VA state singles and doubles titles as well as 7 Richmond city championships.
Far West End Area
MARK BERNSTINE, Director of Tennis & Fitness, Hermitage Country Club
Mark was born in Newton, NJ. He played tennis at Virginia Tech from 1986-1990. USPTA Certified since 1990. Past President of USPTA Mid Atlantic Division. Mark has been at Hermitage since 1996.
JOE CAPPELLINO, Director of Tennis & Fitness, Dominion Country Club
Joe Cappellino is currently the Director of Tennis at The Dominion Club and has been there since 2002. Joe has been in Richmond since 1991 having worked at Raintree Swim & Racquet and Stonehenge Golf & Country Club prior to The Dominion Club. He is married and has two 6 year old boys. Joe played his college at Slippery Rock University graduating in 1987. Joe played #1 singles and #1 doubles for Slippery Rock 3 out of his 4 years and is second in career victories at the university. Since being in Richmond, Joe has competed sectionally in singles, doubles, and mixed doubles. He won the City Tournament in 1995 and has won numerous doubles and mixed doubles city championships. From 1992-2001 he was ranked in the top 10 in doubles and top 5 in mixed doubles having held down a #1 ranking in mixed doubles with partner Rachel Gale. During that time period he also had a top 10 singles ranking in Virginia while consistently being ranked in the top 5 in doubles and mixed.