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NEW ORLEANS – Jorge Capestany of Holland, Mich., was honored with the 2015 Alex Gordon Award for the Professional of the Year by the United States Professional Tennis Association. Capestany was recognized during the annual awards ceremony at the USPTA World Conference at the Hilton New Orleans Riverside in New Orleans on Friday, Sept. 25.

The professional of the year is judged in seven areas, including contributions to USPTA and USTA; as a teaching professional, player and coach; education, research and publications; organizational affiliations; and contributions to the community.

A USPTA Master Professional, Capestany is one of the most sought-after internationally recognized speakers in the world. It’s easy to see why with 33 years of experience as a tennis-teaching professional and many accomplishments and accolades to his name.

Capestany is of only 10 people worldwide to hold a Master Professional distinction with both the USPTA and PTR. Capestany is also a certified Mental Toughness Specialist through the Human Performance Institute and holds a USTA Sports Science certification as well. He has been a speaker at more than 70 conferences, and he has attended 27 consecutive USPTA World Conferences and 29 consecutive USPTA Midwest conventions.

His playing career began at Grand Valley State University, where he led his team to a conference championship in 1981. He later graduated in 1984 and pursued his passion to teach tennis.

Capestany’s programs have developed more than 185 high school state champions in his home state of Michigan. He has personally coached many nationally ranked juniors, including three Gold Ball national champions, and has had several students earn college scholarships and two were named All-Americans.

As an entrepreneur, Capestany has created and directed lesson programs that have generated more than $1 million in annual revenue. His tennisdrills.tv website for players and coaches contains more than 1,200 effective tennis drills and has subscribers in 65 countries. He also founded JorgeCapestany.com, a website that features free video lessons for tennis players of all levels as well as a free Mental Toughness Video Course and eBook. He is also an author and has written three books to share his expertise: “Strategy – How to beat Every Style of Player;” “Mental Toughness – Workbook for Tennis;” and the “PTR International Book of Tennis Drills.”

Capestany has also been featured on three episodes of USPTA’s “On Court with USPTA,” which airs exclusively on the Tennis Channel.

He founded and ran the West Michigan Tennis Academy in Grand Rapids, Mich., in 2003, and just a year later, founded the Hope College Tennis Academy in Holland, Mich., which he still runs today.

As a member of the USPTA for more than 28 years, Capestany has made indelible contributions to the association. He served on the USPTA Executive Committee and held multiple positions on the USPTA Midwest Division board of directors, including serving on multiple committees and as president twice. He is a six-time Michigan Pro of the Year, a two-time Midwest Pro of the Year, a two-time Midwest Facility Manager of the Year, and a two-time Midwest Outstanding Education Award winner. In 2012, Capestany was inducted into the USPTA Midwest Hall of Fame.

The USPTA National Awards program is conducted annually. Nominations are submitted by the organization’s 17 divisions and by individuals. Recipients in each category are decided by the USPTA’s awards committee.