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Coach “D”erek Pride Bio

As an instructor and competitor, Derek Pride offers over 40 years of experience to the tennis community. His journey began at the renowned Norman Wilkerson Junior Tennis Academy where he mastered the fundamentals of the game. Throughout his competitive tournament play in the Southeastern Region, Derek was able to obtain a number one position on his high school Varsity Tennis Team. After graduating, he went on to play at the collegiate level while attending Alabama A&M University. Today Derek can still be found playing competitively at the top levels of the Atlanta Lawn Tennis Association (ALTA) and United States Tennis Association (USTA) leagues.

Derek’s personal love for tennis is only surpassed by his desire to share the game with others. In an attempt to do so, he began instructing private lessons to close friends and family members. In 2002, Derek successfully completed his teaching certification with one of the world’s largest tennis organization, Professional Tennis Registry. As a PTR Certified Tennis Instructor, Coach “D”erek has expanded his clientele to include children, as well as men and women of all ages and skill levels.

Coach “D” is the head coach of several play-off, city championship, and state finalist ALTA and USTA adult and youth teams. He is also involved with the local high school teams and has led them to several regional and state play-offs/championships. He has served as the Director and Assistant Director of local tennis facilities and is the official, on-site instructor for several apartment communities and neighborhoods throughout the Metro Atlanta area.

Coach D considers himself to be more than just a tennis coach, but a coach for life. He adds compassion, optimism, integrity, and patience to instruction just as he exhibits them everywhere he goes. The secret to his success really is no secret at all. It’s embodied within his own words “I now do what I truly love.”

Teaching life skills one stroke at a time.

– PRIDE TENNIS ACADEMY.

PTA’s mission is simple, we are creating opportunities for youth and adults to succeed in the game of life through the sport of tennis. We plan to accomplish our mission by providing a certified and dedicated team of coaches helping players become lifelong participants of the sport of tennis through an array of progressive development programs, special events, and social activities. PTA shares the same philosophy as the late, great Arthur Ashe who eloquently stated “Our idea is to use tennis as a way to gain and hold the attention of young people so that we can teach them about matters far more important than tennis. Through tennis, lives can be changed and spirits reclaimed.” Pride Tennis Academy may be found in the following market places: social organizations, educational/religious institutions, Metro-Atlanta businesses/communities, and individual clientele.