News

WHITE PLAINS, N.Y. – The United States Tennis Association (USTA) today announced two new positions based at the USTA National Campus in Orlando, Fla. Kathy Woods has been named Director of Tennis leading and overseeing all programming and activities at the USTA National Campus with a focus to drive participation. Additionally, Chris “Mick” Michalowski has been named Director of Campus Laboratory, USTAU, a role dedicated to utilizing the National Campus as an experiential learning site for the next generation of tennis providers, including tennis professionals, coaches, and administrators.

In her role as Director of Tennis, Woods will provide overall direction and supervision for clinics, private lessons, court bookings, camps, and small groups to ensure the teaching experience is at the highest standard of excellence. Additionally, she will develop programs that will engage other Central Florida pros and allow them to utilize the Campus with their students.

“Kathy will be an invaluable addition to our team and the new home for American tennis,” said Tim Cass, General Manager, USTA National Campus. “Kathy is highly respected in the tennis industry and brings a wealth of tennis experience to the National Campus”.

Prior to joining the USTA, Woods served as the Director of Tennis at the Racquet Club of St. Petersburg (Fla.) since 2004. Previously, she managed tennis programs in several communities, including Princeton, N.J., Key Biscayne, Fla., and Westport, Conn. From 1994-1996, Woods served as president of the United States Professional Tennis Association (USPTA), the first and only woman to hold this position. In 1997, she was awarded the Tennis Educational Merit Award from the International Tennis Hall of Fame for outstanding service at the national level.

As the Director of Campus Laboratory, Michalowski will be responsible for exploring and developing new experiential learning opportunities for tennis providers. In this role, he will oversee the USTA National Campus Internship Program and be a key conduit in the delivery of digital content from the National Campus.

Prior to joining the USTA, Michalowski served as the Director of Tennis of Grand Traverse Resort and Spa in Acme, Mich., since 1988, where he oversaw tennis instruction, leagues, and tournament programs. Michalowski attended Ferris State University where he was the first student ever to enroll in the school’s Professional Tennis Management program. His many awards include Ferris State University’s PTM Alumni of the Year (2013), USPTA Michigan Tennis Professional of the Year (2003, 2005) and the USTA/USPTA National Community Service Award (2006).

“Mick’s role is essential for those wanting to gain experience as a coach, teacher, event organizer and tournament director,” said Scott Schultz, Managing Director, USTAU. “He knows first-hand the significance of experiential learning and will create the best environment for people to learn to deliver tennis.”

The USTA National Campus will deliver the world’s finest tennis experience for all who visit, use, and work at the facility. It will be the epicenter of innovation for the sport of tennis, as well as for training and developing the next generation of tennis players, officials, and industry professionals. A model tennis facility, the USTA National Campus, expected to open in January 2017, will feature 100 tennis courts. Open to the public, the USTA National Campus will be able to accommodate every type of tennis competition and program, from youth tennis events to age-based national championships. Collegiate tennis will be a staple, with the USTA National Campus serving as the home of the University of Central Florida’s men’s and women’s tennis teams, as well as hosting collegiate tournaments. The USTA’s Community Tennis and Player Development divisions, which focus on strengthening the game’s grass roots and developing the next generation of American champions, will also be housed on the site, incorporating the latest technology and equipment to assist with advanced training techniques, sports science, coaching education and improved athletic performance.

The USTA is the national governing body for the sport of tennis in the U.S. and the leader in promoting and developing the growth of tennis at every level — from local communities to the highest level of the professional game. A not-for-profit organization with more than 715,000 members, it invests 100% of its proceeds in growing the game. It owns and operates the US Open, the highest-attended annual sporting event in the world, and launched the Emirates Airline US Open Series, linking seven summer tournaments to the US Open. In addition, it owns approximately 90 Pro Circuit events throughout the U.S. and selects the teams for the Davis Cup, Fed Cup, Olympic and Paralympic Games. The USTA’s philanthropic entity, the USTA Foundation, provides grants and scholarships and helps under-resourced youth and individuals with disabilities, and supports wounded, ill and injured service members, veterans and their families. For more information on the USTA, log on to usta.com, “like” the official Facebook page, facebook.com/usta, or follow @usta on Twitter.

For more information, contact: Trina Singian, USTA Communications, 914-697-2223, [email protected]