As a student tennis player during my collegiate years at Virginia Union University, I’ve always had the desire to come back and serve my school. My tenure at Virginia Union University covered 20 seasons starting in 2000. In 2021, I retired as Head Tennis Coach there. While at the University, I served as the head coach for both the men’s and women’s tennis teams. In our first year of women’s tennis in the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (C.I.A.A.), I coached the first women’s conference champion at the fifth flight singles position. Over the past seasons, I coached one conference champion and placed several players on the all-conference team. In 2004, the men and women’s tennis teams were recognized by Virginia Union University for obtaining the Highest-Grade Point Average for that academic year. After finishing a strong 2006 season, the women’s tennis team finished third overall at the C.I.A.A. Conference Tennis Championships. In 2011, the men’s tennis team was honored by the C.I.A.A. Conference for producing the Highest Grade Point Average for men’s tennis. The 2019 and 2020 tennis seasons saw women’s tennis captured the award for having the Highest-Grade Point Average in the conference. In 2020, our women’s tennis team had the highest grade Point Average of all the sports in the conference. The highlight of the 2020 season was when the Virginia Union University Women’s Tennis Team was named as an International Tennis Association (I.T.A.) All-Academic Team. Five players from the 2020 Women’s Tennis Team were named to the I.T.A. All-Academic Tennis Team.
In 2011, I was selected to coach the boys’ and girls’ 14 and under Mid-Atlantic Zonal Teams. The teams turned in an outstanding performance by winning the National Zonal Championships, earning me the U.S.T.A. Collegiate Coach of the Year award for the Mid-Atlantic/VA. Section. Soon after, I completed
the requirements in 2012 to obtain my USTA/PTR High Performance Training Certification. I became a member of the Professional Tennis Registry for five years. Later, I was again selected to coach the 2012 and 2014 Mid-Atlantic Zonal teams. We finished second and third place respectively. During that time, I
served as a tennis instructor/ coach at several high performance clinics held at the Junior Tennis Champions Center (J.T.C.C.) in College Park, Maryland, and at the Four Star Tennis Academy in Alexandria VA.
For 10 years, I was a tennis instructor with the City of Richmond Department of Parks and Recreation. During that time, I had the privilege of working with some of the most promising and talented kids around the Richmond area. Also, I served as the Head Junior Development Coach with the Richmond Racquet Club. In this capacity, I helped develop the skill level of junior players while stressing academic excellence. I served as Co-Tournament Director of the Southeastern Tennis Tournament for several
years. The Southeastern Tournament was part of the USTA/ATA circuit of tournaments.
Finally, for two years, I worked as a Tennis Instructor/Coach assisting in tennis clinics for Lobs and Lessons at Virginia Commonwealth University. Before the program ended, I served as a Junior Development Coach with the ACE Academy.
Nominators Statement - Coach Ronald GUY Walton
From kindergarten through college,
From the tennis courts of historic Battery Park to the Mayor of the City of Richmond’s board room, From the tennis courts of Historic Battery Park to the private upscale courts of Richmond Country Club,
Coach Guy’s impact on the youth of Richmond Virginia is immeasurable.
Not only was Coach Guy proficient in teaching tennis skills, game strategy and teamwork;
he helped expand the vision of African American youth by providing options and
opportunities. The opportunities included travel beyond the city of Richmond to compete in youth tournaments and participate in national clinics. Options included college selection due to tennis scholarship oƯers. He taught and instilled discipline and integrity. He
required high moral and academic standards for the youth at all age levels along with
commitment.
All his adult life, Coach Guy has continued to REPRESENT, just by showing up, either as a
player himself or as a coach, a black man with a team of sharp, proud African American youth. Now retired from the Chesterfied County school system, Coach Guy believes his body is done with coaching but I believe he has more to give and hope he finds his way back to the courts soon.
Coach Guy is a Regional Legend, let’s give him this recognition in the Black Tennis Hall of
Fame he deserves.
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