Top club coaches shortlisted at 2023 Australian Tennis Awards

Three outstanding club coaches are finalists for a Coaching Excellence honour at the upcoming Australian Tennis Awards.


Thursday 07 December 2023
Leigh Rogers
Australia
Qiang WANG (CHN) and coach, Pat Cash are seen during a practice session ahead of the Australian Open at Melbourne Park in Melbourne on Saturday, January 15, 2022. MANDATORY PHOTO CREDIT Jay Town/TENNIS AUSTRALIA

Club coaches play a pivotal role in helping grow the game within their local communities.

The Coaching Excellence - Club Award, which is presented annually at the Australian Tennis Awards, recognises the most outstanding club coaches that provide quality programs and actively provide encourage players to progress their game.

The 2023 finalists are:

Tina Keown (Vic): As manager of the Victorian Tennis Academy in Melbourne, Keown oversees operations at four tennis centres - Fawkner Park, Powlett Reserve, Caulfield Park and Oakleigh. More than 900 children and 600 adults are engaged in weekly coaching sessions, with up to 3000 participants per week across all programs.

Tim Low (Qld): Head coach at the Redland Bay Tennis Club, Low runs a thriving business in the outskirts of Brisbane. Participation levels in Bayside Tennis Coaching's Hot Shots Tennis program have grown 16 per cent in the past year, with Cardio Tennis classes attracting 23 per cent more participants.

Helen Rice (SA): Students at the Helen Rice Tennis School, in the Adelaide suburb of Lower Mitcham, range in age from three to 82. Rice is the head coach at Denman Tennis Club and also runs lessons at the Bellevue Heights and Netherby tennis clubs, which attract more than 400 participants each term.

The award winner will be announced at the 2023 Australian Tennis Awards, held at Melbourne's Crown Casino, on Monday 11 December.

Rice has the chance to become the first two-time recipient of this award, while Keown and Low could win their first Australian Tennis Award.


Australian Tennis AwardsHonour rollCoaching Excellence - Club
2022David Grainger (SA)
2021Domenic Marafiote (SA)
2020Not presented
2019Yvonne Fantin (Vic)
2018Adon Kronk (Qld)
2017Helen Rice (SA)
2016Helen Magill (NSW)
2015Jason Lindeman (Vic)
2014Craig Louis (NSW)
2013Neil Smith (NSW)
2012Wesley Horskins (Vic)
2011Peter Owen (Vic)
2010Brett Lennard (Qld)



> READ: Finalists revealed for the 2023 Australian Tennis Awards

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