Bill Phillips

Bill Phillips, USPTA Elite Professional, has been working and teaching in the tennis industry since 1974 when he was serving in the US Air Force in San Antonio and teaching on various base facilities. His career took him from there to Houston where is worked as a representative for Snauwaert, Head Racquet Sports and Yamaha Tennis for a few years. He returned to coaching there as a head pro at an indoor facility, then to Corpus Christi where he was the tennis director at a country club. He taught at a health club in Kingwood before moving to Louisiana to teach at a premiere 23 court health and racquet club, working under veteran coach John Bryan. The dynamic junior program boasted former WTA number 6 player Chanda Rubin as well as a solid group of future college standouts.

It was in Corpus Christi that mentors Ron Woods and Ken McAllister encouraged him to join USPTA as a certified professional and Bill has been a member since 1986. He is an Elite Professional and began serving on the USPTA Louisiana board in 2002 and became president in 2003. He moved onto the USPTA Southern board as secretary in 2005 and later became its president in 2011. During a tumultuous period for USPTA, Bill served on the search committee that would hire current CEO/Executive Director John Embree. It was also during that time the he was asked to chair the USPTA’s first 10 and Under Committee and he did so for 6 years. In all, Bill served on the USPTA Southern Board for 16 years and during that time; he was honored with the Pride of the South Award, the Alan Henry Pro of the Year award, the 10 and Under Pro of the Year Award and the Industry Excellence Award. In 2016, he received the President’s Award, recognizing his years of service. In 2012, Bill received the USPTA Education Credit Award for most continuing education credits.

Bill is a USPTA Tester, a position that he truly loves as he enjoys mentoring new professionals and sharing his experiences. Among his other activities, he was selected to be a USTA Recreational Coach Trainer and a USTA 10 and Under Trainer. He was honored as USTA Trainer of the Year in 2013. He currently serves as a USTA National Early Development Coach. Bill was also a Cardio Tennis National Trainer for many years and is still involved with this program. He was also selected by USTA and USPTA to join a team of Coach Educators who will deliver Teach Essential Workshops starting in 2021

Among other accomplishments and activities, Bill is a USTA High Performance Coach, a longtime Wilson Advisory Staff member, and a Wilson 10 and Under Industry Expert/Speakers Bureau member. He serves as an advisory board member for A’s and Aces, and award winning NJTL Chapter in New Orleans, as a member of the Louisiana Tennis Hall of Fame Committee and the Louisiana Tennis Patrons Foundation. He has received the USTA Louisiana President’s Award twice.

Bill considers himself to be a lifetime learner and he continues to participate in and speak at conferences and workshops all over the country. His real passion is coaching education and helping raise the standards and quality of tennis coaches in the US. He is also passionate about 10 and under tennis and grassroots tennis. He loves getting youth and adults of to a good start by providing them a fun and educational experience. He currently serves USTA Southern as the Tennis Service Representative for Louisiana.

Bill is truly honored to be among this august group of USPTA Southern Hall of Fame members.