Texas Tennis Coaches Podcast

19h ago

Send us a text In this episode of the Texas Tennis Coaches Podcast, hosts Amanda Sterling and Ruben Vargas reflect on the TTCA 2025 convention, share insights from interviews with Grand Slam champion Mats Wilander and Andy Zodin, and discuss the importance of sportsmanship, coaching philosophy, and the role of team spirit in tennis. Ruben and Amanda want to thank Bobby Kleinecke and Wilson for making this interview happen. Another special thanks to Andy and Mats for taking the time to sit and chat with us before the 2025 Wilson Hall of Fame Banquet! LIKE, SUBSCRIBE, and SHARE if you enjoyed this episode!

Dec 10

Send us a text It's the final day of the Team Tennis season and Ruben Vargas discusses various aspects of coaching tennis, including team dynamics, injury management, and the importance of resilience in sports. He emphasizes the role of coaches in player development and the challenges of event management in tennis. The conversation also touches on the future of tennis in Texas and the significance of building a winning culture within teams, reflecting on personal coaching experiences and achievements. Ruben also speaks with THE 2025 UIL Team Tennis State Champion Coaches 6A- Kevin McIlvain (The Woodlands) 5A- Douglas Fair (Frisco Centennial) 4A- Brett Robins (Wimberley) Like, Subscribe, and Share! Plus we will be LIVE at TTCA Convention, Friday, December 12! Come see us!

Dec 9

Send us a text In this episode of the Texas Tennis Coaches podcast, host Amanda Sterling and co-host Ruben Vargas interview Tim Cochran, our third Wilson 2025 TTCA Hall of Fame inductee. Tim shares his journey from a young athlete to a successful coach, discussing the importance of mentorship, building strong relationships with students, and creating engaging programs that foster a love for tennis. He emphasizes the significance of collaboration among coaches and the need to adapt coaching styles to meet the individual needs of players. Tim also reflects on the impact he has had on his students and the joy of introducing tennis to thousands of kids throughout his career. Come see us at TTCA Convention 2025 and we will be LIVE! Like, share, and subscribe!

Dec 8

Send us a text We are interviewing our second 2025 Wilson Hall of Fame inductee, Norm Smith. This week, Norm Smith reflects on the legacy of coaching in tennis, emphasizing the contributions of pioneering coaches who paved the way for current and future generations. He expresses pride in being part of this legacy and acknowledges the importance of these figures in making tennis a significant sport. Like, share, and subscribe!

Dec 1

Send us a text Summary In this episode of the Texas Tennis Coaches Podcast, Amanda and Ruben welcome Terry Hunter, this year's Texas Tennis Coaches Association: Wilson's Hall of Honor Inductee. They discuss Terry's journey in tennis, the importance of relationships in coaching, and the role of vendors like Tennis Outlet in supporting coaches. The conversation also covers preparations for the upcoming TTCA Convention, the significance of team unity, and the impact of weather on events. Terry shares insights on the offerings of Tennis Outlet and emphasizes the importance of helping coaches succeed. Check out Tennis Outlet at atennisoutlet.com! Like, subscribe, and share!

Nov 27

Send us a text Ruben takes over the podcast during the first day of the 2025 UIL State Team Tennis Tournament at the Waco Regional Tennis Center. Unfortunately, he couldn't be in two places at once and missed out on the 5A Semifinals at the Baylor Hurd Tennis Center. We hope you enjoy interviews from the 6A and 4A State Qualifiers. While there is no crying in tennis or baseball, there are some tears shed around the 40-minute mark by one co-host. Like, subscribe, and share this episode!

Nov 24

Send us a text In this episode of the Texas Tennis Coaches Podcast, hosts Amanda Sterling and Ruben Vargas interview Manuel Moreno Jr., a Hall of Fame inductee with over 44 years of coaching experience. They discuss his journey in coaching, the importance of teaching life lessons through sports, and the value of building relationships with players. Moreno shares insights on discipline, sportsmanship, and the significance of community among coaches. He reflects on his experiences running successful tournaments and offers words of wisdom for aspiring coaches, emphasizing the need for passion and dedication in the coaching profession. Like, subscribe, and share!

Oct 13

Send us a text In this episode of the Texas Tennis Coaches podcast, Amanda and Ruben discuss the excitement surrounding the playoffs, the importance of facilities in hosting tournaments, and the need for coaches to recognize and nominate their peers for TTCA Special Awards, COTY and Assistant Coach of the Year (nominations are due November 1). Plus THSCA All-State Academic and SET nominations are due November 1 as well. We also highlight the upcoming Hall of Fame inductions and emphasize the significance of sportsmanship and teaching valuable life lessons to young athletes.