Vesa Ponkka, Director of Tennis

• Vesa has over 30 years of playing and coaching experience at the highest levels of tennis: USTA, ITF, NCAA, Davis Cup, WTA, and ATP and he has PTR, USPTA, and USTA High Performance certification.
• His students have won numerous professional and national titles, achieved the #1 ITF Junior World Ranking, several #1 USTA National Rankings, and NCAA All American honors. 
• Vesa was an original member of JTCC as a small   start-up in 1999.  Since then, he has been one of the instrumental driving forces in establishing JTCC among the best training centers in the world.
• Vesa feels privileged to have served as a teacher and mentor for thousands of young players and believes that coaching education is critical to the growth of USA tennis. 
• Coaching Philosophy: Vesa is a strong believer in Long Term Athletic Developmental Stages and uses Long Term Progressive Training Methods. 
• Quote: “In the Finnish language, we have a special word SISU; unyielding courage, stamina, and fortitude.  The real champion in life has SISU.”

• El Paso, Texas
• In his competitive days, Frank made his mark on the ATP tour, played #1 at Clemson University and was the #1 Junior in the World
• Frank has several years of experience coaching ATP Tour players, college players and multiple top ten nationally ranked juniors
• In 2008, Frank was named the Developmental Coach of the Year for tennis by the United States Olympic Committee.
• Currently, Frank is coaching and mentoring four of the top junior players in the United States as well as several other top young players
• His passion for coaching is fueled by his students’ individual improvement as they work to reach their potential.
• Frank’s coaching philosophy is- “less talk, more action.” He wants his players to play with a purpose, build a strong foundation and treat triumph and disaster just the same. His definition of a champion is someone who stands up to adversity and remains humble with success

• Lome, Togo
• Oliver joined the Champions Center coaching team during the summer of 2000
• As a senior professional, Oliver works with several players of all ages and levels and works with many of the top nationally ranked players
• He leads a number of Club group clinics for adults and juniors and teaches private lessons
• He has had many coaching successes including working with players who have won USTA and ITF titles
• Olver strives to give his best to his students every day, and hopes to help them reach their goals whether in college or on the ATP or WTA tour
• Oliver is USPTR/USPTA High Performance certified.
• Coaching Philosophy: Oliver believes that true champions understand the importance of discipline and being tough. His is determined to make the Champions Center one of the best training facilities in the world by instilling a strong work ethic, determination, and discipline in every player
  

• Moscow, Russia
• Misha’s takes great pride in coaching top international tennis players at Champions Center. Prior to working at JTCC, Misha coached three top 10 nationally ranked players and was Head Coach at Division I Robert Morris University in Pennsylvania.
• Misha’s goal is to develop a player that achieves success on the ATP or WTA tours. More importantly, he hopes to help many children become positivity impacted by participating in tennis.
• Misha’s coaching philosophy is to develop a strong technique for a player while concentrating on their future improvements. He defines a champion as a person who is not just a great tennis player but a great individual, someone who has a strong work ethic and a great attitude towards life. He believes “a champion is someone who overcomes challenges, learns from them, and becomes stronger!”

• Lome, Togo
• Upon arriving in the U.S., Ali served as practice partner to Venus and Serena Williams
• He then moved to the DC metro area where he served as a coach in the Georgetown Day Boy’s Tennis Program
• Ali’s greatest personal achievements were playing for the Togo Davis Cup team in the Olympics
• As a member of the Champions Center coaching staff, Ali heads the Junior Champions Program, the first tier for committed junior players ages 7-11.
• He is USPTR/USPTA High Performance certified
• Ali’s coaching philosophy is to emphasize discipline, focus and a positive approach to tennis and life. Ali strives to help others realize their goals.

• Spent 2 years as Asst Coach at Maryland. Reached ITA national team ranking of #45 in the country 
• Spent 2 years as Head Coach at American University and had a 29-15 record at AU, including a 12-3 conference mark. He led American to the 2005 Patriot League Regular-Season Title and placed six players on the All Patriot League Team
• A three-year captain of the American University tennis team, Kyle competed in the NCAA Tournament from 2001-2003. In addition, he was an All-Patriot League selection and team MVP in 2003. He excelled off the court, as a double major in business administration and public communications and a member of the Patriot League Academic Honor Roll and Academic Dean's List in 2002 and 2003
• Kyle believes champions should have the ability to endure adversity and tough challenges, and come out a better player and person regardless of the outcome. “The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy.” – Martin Luther King Jr.

• Born in Buffalo, New York, Ellen began playing competitive tennis at the age of 11. After lettering in 5 sports in high school, she played tennis at Rice University in Houston, Texas, and in several professional tournaments.
• A USPTA certified professional, Ellen was instrumental in building one of the premier tennis junior development programs in the Houston, area.
• Ellen completed a Masters in Elementary Education from The George Washington University in May, 2009. Her work in elementary education has instilled in her an understanding of the developmental capabilities of young children and serves her well as a coach of the youngest future champions at the Tennis Center.
• As part of her teaching philosophy, Ellen credits educator Jerome Bruner, who believes every child is capable of learning. It is up to the professional to instill that love of learning-whatever that learning- and ultimately impart useful knowledge to the child.
• A two-time National Champion and All-American, Top-10 United States Masters swimmer, Ellen is a big believer in fitness and cross-training. Without strong conditioning, even the best tennis strokes go to waste. Ellen works primarily with committed 7- 12 year olds focusing on stroke fundamentals, footwork, balance, and useful playing strategies. Her unabashed goal is to build the early development program at the Tennis Center into the premier program in the Mid-Atlantic.

• Greg’s greatest coaching achievement is coaching Rober Emmian and helping him capture the European long jump record, which has not been beaten. Greg also coached Diane Guthrie to become a two-time Olympian and win five NCAA championships.
• He was D.C. United’s strength and conditioning coach from 1997-2004. Greg was Sprint and Jump Coach at George Mason University and then at American University, he served as Head Strength and Conditioning coach for four years.
• Additionally, Greg coaches a number of professional track and field athletes, Olympic winter sports athletes, and Major League Soccer players.
• Greg’s coaching philosophy is: work hard, work smart, and dream big because there is no limit to excellence. One of Greg’s goals is to coach a U.S. Open Champion tennis player. He defines a Champion as someone who has total dedication to achieving their dreams and aspirations.

Mark hails from New Jersey, where he attended public schools in Lawrenceville. From there, he attended Yale University, graduating in 1991 with a Bachelors of Arts in History. He moved to the Washington area in 1993, and entered the graduate program in American History at George Washington University, receiving a Masters in Philosophy in 1998. He is the co-author of The Medical Follow-up Agency: The First Fifty Years, 1946-1996 (National Academy Press, 1999), and has written several articles for peer-reviewed academic journals. Mark has also presented a number of papers at academic conferences.  He joined the staff of the Tennis Center of College Park in 2006.

Michelle was born in Los Angeles, California and   grew up in Washington, DC and Colorado. She attended Colorado State University and received a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics in 1987, with an emphasis in secondary education. Michelle then attended graduate school for a year but left to become a full-time high school math instructor while continuing to take courses over the years to keep her skills current. After having taught high school mathematics for nearly ten years, she spent one year in the private industry as a Software Test Engineer for a NASA contractor, another year as a STE for a POS company and then two years as a Technology Coordinator for DeMatha Catholic High School. One of Michelle’s greatest teaching achievements is being nominated for Teacher of the Year at Thomas Jefferson High School in Colorado. Being a lifelong learner, Michelle believes that education is a powerful value that she hopes to impart to all her students. Michelle also plans to pursue a Master’s Degree in Education.

• Nottingham, England
• Neal Bowes is a Certified Sport Psychologist (AASP, CC). He is a certified consultant of the Association for Applied Sport Psychology, member of the American Psychological Association, holds a certificate in counseling, is a certified teacher and is adjunct faculty at George Washington University. He studied for his graduate and doctoral degrees at the Universities of Warwick and Bristol in the UK.
• Neal has provided support for athletes at the past three Olympic Games and for teams and athletes at World Championships, Pan American Games and European tournaments.
• Neal was a former professional soccer player in England and represented his country at both schoolboy and collegiate level and is a former national collegiate level selector. He has written articles on performance enhancement including national guidelines for long term athlete development (LTAD).
• Neal delivers the mental training for all players at the JTCC including support and training for players, coaches and parents.
• Neal’s philosophy is based upon teaching player’s awareness and key mental skills. Mix in hard work, mental toughness and a great attitude to achieve your potential.

• Brighton, England
• Claire completed her degrees in Exercise Physiology at the University of Birmingham, UK.  She is an exercise physiologist, certified strength and conditioning specialist (CSCS), certified sports nutritionist (CISSN) and is a professional member of the ACSM, NSCA and the ISSN.
• Claire has delivered exercise physiology and strength and conditioning with a variety of teams and athletes, including the Great Britain triathlon and swimming squads, Formula 1 and rally motor racing, professional  golfers and other national/Olympic athletes.
• Claire was a highly competitive age group swimmer and triathlete.
• Claire completes regular physiological testing on all players in the Champions program at the center, providing recommendations for player development to the coaching staff.  She also provides education & resources to players, parents and coaches.
• Claire bases her work on the most up to date sport science research, and is passionate about assisting junior performers reach their performance goals, and remaining injury free.