Tennis Awards:
Won many military events while serving 27 years of distinguished U.S. Naval service.
*Pan American Games won Mens Doubles Champion 2024
*USTA Senior Games (VA State games) won 2021, 2022, 2023
Placed #10 National Senior Games (singles 202)
Donald was introduced to tennis in Cleveland, Ohio in 1972 in a new summer tennis program created by Arthur Ashe, Charlie Parsarell, and Sheridan Snyder called National Junior Tennis League. From that summer program he was asked to come back and be a summer tennis coach for all of us kids of color. I could tell he loved the sport and since then even with many "color" challenges in being a young man to man of color playing tennis, with many times being unwelcomed as he was "the only one whom looked like him" it did not stop him! He taught summer tennis in Cleveland for five years. He had a chance to go play college tennis but opted to go into the Navy. Donald displayed his remarkadble resilience and love for tennis in so many grand ways. He soared to follow well and lead even better and make such positive change and tremendous differences by providing hope, encouragement and opportunity to many! His tennis and leadership has superbly changed so many lives!
More noteworthy accomplishments: While serving proudly in the U.S. Navy for 27 years, in various military bases, he saw the need for tennis so he acted and set up free tennis programming (free clinics, open play opportunities, tournaments and social events) at every military base he was assigned to working with military family and active duty members from all branches of service.
*1988-2000 Selected to lead the Okinawa Japan based CTA. His efforts vastly connected military and local Japanese citizens via tennis. (CTA's first selection of a person of color.
*2004-12 Served as Director / Head Player Development for the An Achievable Dream Academies (AADA) in Newport News, VA (one USTA's largest National NJLTs with year around school based population of over 600 K-12th graders thats over 6,000 kids plus their parents and siblings.) He fostered tennis and education for many first time exposure tennis players. His leadership led to well established ages 8U, 10U, 16U tennis programs and high school to college scholarships for many of his students. His efforts greatly strengthen community support of tennis and academics. AADA received USTA Outstanding Facility Nation Award 2005.
*2013-2020 Served as Head Teaching Pro at College of William & Mary. He led USTA Competition Training Center and Early Development Center Programs for all of Hampton Roads. Under his leadership many of the best junior tennis players and coaches were developed. (He was lead for the entire HR Community as a person of color.)
*2017-2020 Started the Virginia first "ACEing Autism" program at College of William & Mary. This National program served tennis to many underserved youth with autism.
*USTA 10 time National Coach via National NJTL Leadership Camps, USTA Zonal events and USTA L1 National Coaching venues.
*Won USTA L1 "Brewer Team Cup" Championship (2024)
*Won USTA L1 "Brewer Team Cup" SPIRIT Award (2023)
*PPR (Professional Pickleball Registry) (PROFESSIONAL) - New certified currently serving in community support.
*RSPA Tennis (ELITE) Racquet sports Professional Assn - Served and continued education.
*RSPA Pickelball (PROFESSIONAL) - Gives free pickleball clinics to VETs, Park & Rec Facilities, and others.
*USTAPD High Performance Sport Science Coach: (PD: Player Development Lead Programs - Head coach for many USTAPD
*USTAPD National Coach (x10) & National Champion (2024)
*Etcheberry Tennis Fitness (Elite) One of few coach of color.
*TRX Group - Provided fitness and weight management training to military and non military people.
*USTA Net Generation Provider level - Serves as a USTA Regional Tennis & Pickleball Provider to school based programs in High, Middle, and Elementary schools. Most of these kids are first exposure to tennis and pickelball. Helping Gym Teachers with structure and service delivery.
*CTA - Led the Okinawa, Japan based CTA. His efforts vastly connected military and local Japanese citizens via tennis and collaboration. (CTA's first selection of a person of color.)
*2018-2019 Director of Tennis, An Achievable Dream Academies (Served over 600 elementary school based kids tennis & education via the NJTL network)
*2014-2019 Head, Tennis Teaching Professional College of William & Mary, Williamsburg, CA
2004-2013 Head, Player Development, An Achievable Dream Academy (served over 6,000 kids in one of the most active full time USTA NJTLs)
*Led USTA Player Development Camps (Early Development Centers: Orange & Green ball) and Competition Training Centers for all of Hampton Roads, VA
*Led International Tennis and Educational Camp, Kenya East Africa for over eight nations with 120 players and 12 coaches (Aug 2005) Then was part of team that helped bring players from Africa to USA on tennis partnership programs, many earned college scholarships.
*Led USTA NJTL Nationa Leadership Camps (5yrs)
*Led (oncourt leadership) annual USTA Arthur Ashe Kids Day session (16 yrs)
*1975-1977 Selected as Junior Tennis Coach for USTA NJTL summer tennis program
AWARDS:
*2023 USPTA (Now RSPA) STAR Coaching Award for Mid-Atlantic
*2017 Finished #6 (mixed doubles), and #10 Men's singles nationally in Senior Olympics Games
*2015 Selected and Lead Coach of USTA Mid-Atlantic Zonal Team to Championship (only coach of color)
*2015 Selected as ACEing Autism Director, Virginia
*2008 Coached USTA Junior Team Tennis Team to "top 16" nationally
*2006 Awarded USTA Top Volunteer Virginia
*2005 Awarded PTR Teaching Professional of the Year, Virginia
As mentioned, my brother is incredily passioned about everything tennis. His veast history and actions to gain, grow, and serve others is well documented.
When we grew up in economic proverty, doctors said because he was premature and had so many health issues and hewould be a burden for us and probably not be any good to society, they said he should be euthanize. My mother and grandmother said no! at age 12 he came to tennis weith me and joined our new USTA NJTL free summer program. I truly believe tennis saved his life and gave him purpose. When we started he couldn't beat me playing tennis . . . but ya kown what he worked hard and got better and even finally beat be. One of me true loves in my brother is how he helps via tennis, because he had proud distinguished military service and travelled the planet, he got to seen opportunities. The greatest thing is how he shares with others in developmental tennis & life skill coaching, getting kids tennis stuff, clothing, shoes, rackets, for free and teaching them how to be better humans to each other and themselves! I could say so much more but you should see and hear him coach then you would see his love, caring for others and passion! thank you for the opportunity for me to nominate him!
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