Coaching Professionals
Meet our dedicated coaches and connect with them today!
Kevin
Director of the Great Park Tennis Academy
Elite Level 1 Certified Tennis Professional, Kevin Garrett has achieved the second highest ranking of United States Professional Tennis Association. To attest to his dedication to provide an elite level of coaching, Kevin has studied international Spaniard training methods with Emilio Sanchez-former world #7 singles and #1 doubles, and Spanish Davis Cup Coach. Over his high school teaching career, Kevin has a total 142 wins and four losses and was named High School Coach of the Year four times. Many of these wins came from his coaching time at Los Alamitos high school and University high school. Kevin has continued to produce tournament players throughout the years, in addition to numerous Local and National tournament wins, his students have also won the Ojai, Junior College State Titles, National Collegiate Athletic Association’s Individuals, and found Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) and Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) tour success. Kevin not only has coaching experience, as he has ample experience in different roles such as Director of Tennis, Head Tennis Professional, World Team Tennis League Coordinator, Junior Team Tennis Coach and Organizer, and has developed and overseen multiple Junior and Adult Tennis Academies and Challenge Ladders.
Kevin is currently the Director of the Great Park Tennis Academy.
Contact Kevin at (562) 375-2808 or via email at Westcoasttennis@gmail.com.
Weekday Junior Program Coordinator
Vicky
Vicky is the backbone and foundation of this program, ensuring its smooth operation. She manages all scheduling and accounting tasks for the academy and works directly with coaches and parents to make sure their child is on track for their goals in the academy.
For inquiries regarding the academy, please contact Vicky at (323)-719-6512 or via email at
Vwoogptennis@outlook.com
Ace
Ace embarked on his tennis journey at the age of five and began competing in junior tournaments by the age of eight. He ascended through the ranks, achieving a high of No. 3 in the Southern California Section and No. 6 nationally in the 16-and-under division.
Ace commenced his NCAA Division 1 collegiate career on a full scholarship, competing for the University of Utah in the PAC 12 Conference. He subsequently transferred to the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, where he served as team captain and played the No. 1 position for the Rebels, garnering numerous accolades and achievements throughout his tenure. Notable accomplishments of Ace include:
2013, 2014, and 2015 - All Conference-Mountain West Singles Player of the Year
2013, 2014, and 2015 - All Conference-Mountain West Doubles Team of the Year
NCAA ranking of No. 76 in singles
Six-time Mountain West Player of the Week over three seasons
After earning a degree in communications from UNLV, Ace joined the staff at Brigham Young University as the assistant coach for the women’s tennis program from 2016 to 2018. Following his tenure at BYU, Ace returned to his alma mater as the assistant coach for the men's tennis program from 2018 to 2021. During his time at UNLV, he had the honor of working alongside former and current head coach Owen Hambrook, tennis legend Andre Agassi, and strength and conditioning specialist Gil Reyes. Ace possesses over 20 years of competitive playing experience, having participated in numerous Future and Challenger professional tournaments. He is PTR certified and engages with players of all ages. He has had and currently has players winning tournaments across southern California.
He is a manager at the Great Park Tennis Academy, runs the fitness program, teaches private and group lessons, and runs level 7 and junior circuits.
Contact Ace at (310) 951-9710 or via email at Acematias221@gmail.com
Vatsal
Vatsal commenced his tennis journey at the age of eight, quickly progressing to competitive play by the age of ten. He actively engaged in tournaments throughout the Southern California region, achieving recognition as a highly ranked junior player. Vatsal attended Los Alamitos High School, where he served as team captain during his junior and senior years. Throughout his tenure at Los Alamitos, he secured league individual doubles titles for all four years. Moreover, his team successfully captured league championships in each of those years and clinched the California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) Southern Section Championship in his senior year.
Following his high school graduation, Vatsal was recruited to play college tennis on a scholarship at the University of California, Irvine (UCI). During his freshman year, the UCI team attained a ranking as high as #55 in the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). Over his four years in collegiate tennis, Vatsal earned distinctions as an Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) scholar-athlete, as well as first-team selections in the Big West Conference for doubles. He was also recognized as the UCI Anteater of the Week. Vatsal showcased his versatility by competing in various positions in both singles (#3,4,5,6) and doubles (#1,2,3), taking on the captaincy in his senior year.
Vatsal graduated from UCI in 2019 with Latin honors, holding a degree in Economics. He has gained coaching experience at Seal Beach Tennis Center during high school and has provided private lessons throughout his collegiate education. He is PTR certified.
He is a manager at the Great Park Tennis Academy, teaches both group and private lessons, runs level 7 and junior circuit tournaments, and runs the fitness program with coach Ace.
Contact Vatsal at (714) 330-2636
Sheldon
Sheldon began his tennis journey at the age of 9, competing in tournaments throughout California. He attended Long Beach Polytechnic High School, where he was honored as MVP for three consecutive years, successfully qualifying for CIF and the prestigious Ojai tournament. Furthermore, Sheldon competed at Cerritos College, maintaining an impressive singles record of 21 wins and 4 losses. He also qualified for the State College Tournament and was a doubles finalist in the South Coast Conference, achieving a remarkable ranking of #12 in JUCO standings. Earned a bachelors degree in Human Development at Cal State Long Beach.
Sheldon is a certified USPTA professional. He has been coaching at the Great Park since its grand opening in 2017. Additionally, he dedicated a year to coaching at the Chapel Hill Tennis Club in North Carolina (2022-2023), where he worked with both juniors and adults, covering skill levels from beginners to those competing at national and ITF levels.
Currently, Sheldon is back at Great Park, where he conducts private and group lessons, assists in managing the academy, and oversees the Junior Team Tennis (JTT) program alongside with Coach Daniel.
Contact Sheldon at 562-677-6769 or via email at Sheldonhseih@yahoo.com
Ryan
Ryan Blanchette began his sports life as a dedicated multi-sport athlete. At the age of 12, I chose to focus my efforts exclusively on tennis. Hisjourney began as an assistant coach with local park programs, eventually leading to my role as the Junior Varsity coach at my high school, Woodrow Wilson High School. Through experience, he advanced to working with academy-level programs and achieved the position of Varsity Boys Coach at Wilson. When Great Park opened, he recognized an opportunity to contribute to this developing community and committed myself fully to teaching here. His objective is to support his students in achieving their competitive goals in any way possible.
Contact Ryan at (562) 774-7222 or via email at tenniswithryaninc@gmail.com
Daniel
Daniel Trinh began his tennis journey at the age of 12 and developed a profound passion for the sport. By the age of 17, he began his coaching career with a non-profit organization called "First Serve Santa Ana," where he worked with youth of various ages, helping them to play tennis competitively. Daniel further advanced his coaching career by leading the Boys' and Girls' tennis teams at Segerstrom High School for four years, during which his girls' team achieved victory in the California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) championship in 2019. Currently, he teaches private and group lessons for all ages, hosts junior circuit and Level 7 Tournaments, and runs the Junior Team Tennis program with coach Sheldon.
Conact Daniel at (714) 675-5802 or via email at danieltrinh2727@gmail.com
Matt
Matt Yuen is a PTR/PPR certified professional based in Los Angeles, CA. With 12 years of focused study under elite coach Kevin Garrett, he possesses extensive experience as both a recreational and competitive player. In addition, Matt has a strong background in traditional classroom education, where effective classroom management promotes student success. He is dedicated to fostering mental and physical health by customizing each class to meet the individual motivations and needs of each student.
Currently, Matt Yuen serves as a manager for both the Great Park Tennis Academy and the Junior Recreational Tennis Program at Great Park Tennis Center on weekends. Additionally, he oversees the junior and adult pickleball programs at San Carlo Community Park and functions as the League Director for the Irvine Team Pickleball (ITP) League at Portola Springs Community Park.
Contact Matt at (657) 644-1202 or via email at coachmatt@insightsportsconsulting.com.
Joseph
Joseph Emerson commenced his tennis career at the age of eight and began competing seriously by the age of thirteen. He achieved significant results in the 16 and 18 and under age divisions, culminating in a top seven ranking in California. Joseph competed at the Division 1 level for Liberty University. With a strong competitive background, he is passionate about mentoring high-level junior players and nurturing young talent to help them reach their goals. He excels in fostering the best potential in his students across various domains, including strategy, attitude, discipline, and fitness.
Currently, Joseph is a manager at the Great Park Tennis Academy and also offers private lessons, at Great Park Tennis Center.
Contact Joseph at (562) 665-3226 or via email at spinlikerafa@gmail.com.
Associate Coaches Professionals
Mark
Mark Espiritu is a certified Tennis Coach recognized by the Professional Tennis Registry (PTR) and operates at the Great Park Tennis Center in Irvine. He is deeply committed to engaging individuals of all ages and skill levels across various facets of life. Whether coaching tennis, serving as a mentor, or being a supportive friend, he is passionate about imparting his knowledge to others. Mark possesses extensive experience working with diverse skill levels and age groups through the Great Park Tennis Academy and has also provided assistance to fellow coaches in adult clinics. He regards himself as an artist, embodying qualities of creativity and patience. These attributes, he believes, are vital for fostering a safe and invigorating environment conducive to learning. This is particularly important when working with young children who may exhibit high energy levels or encounter challenges in learning at conventional paces. A strong sense of patience can create a secure learning atmosphere, while a creative mindset empowers students to pursue their ambitions and goals through unconventional means, whether as tennis players or as individuals in broader contexts.
He currently is an associate coach for the Great Park Tennis Academy and runs summercamps for adults during summertime.
Contact Mark at (562) 833-4473 or via email at markespiritu@outlook.com
Jovanna
Jovanna possesses a profound dedication to introducing tennis to young children while cultivating well-rounded and competitive tennis players. As a mother of two, she is trilingual, proficient in Spanish, Tagalog, and English. Additionally, she has over ten years of experience as a Senior certified Pilates instructor (Pilates Method Alliance Certified) and is recognized as a fitness model.
Jovanna holds a Professional Tennis Registry (PTR) Level I Certification as an Instructor. Her previous experience includes serving as a coach at the Safe Passage Tennis Program from 2008 to 2013, where she has instructed students of all levels, from beginners to recreational players, high school athletes, and Open competitive players, ranging in ages from 4 to 18, as well as adults.
Jovanna was awarded a full scholarship to compete in Division I tennis at Hampton University (Positions 1 and 2 Singles & Doubles) from 2007 to 2010, and she has continued to play professionally post-college, participating in events sanctioned by the International Tennis Federation (ITF) and Women’s Opens.
As a junior player, Jovanna achieved a ranking of No. 3 in Girls’ 12s within Southern California and No. 23 nationally. She has maintained a competitive tennis career throughout her life and is enthusiastic about nurturing her young children in the sport of tennis.
Jovanna aims to integrate her extensive experience as a competitive tennis player into her coaching philosophy: focusing on learning by example rather than excessive verbal instruction. A true tennis player must develop the ability to think independently on the court and in life. She aspires to cultivate not only proficient strokes but also a sound, independent mindset and physical presence in her players on the court.
Jovanna currently is an associate coach for the Great Park Tennis Academy and does private lessons at the park.
Contact her at (562) 310-0190 or via email at
Jacob
Jacob commenced his tennis journey at the age of 14 and rapidly honed his skills, achieving a position on the varsity high school team as a freshman and later serving as co-captain. His distinguished competitive achievements encompass three consecutive Valley Champion titles, two California Classic Tournament titles, four consecutive California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) League Champion titles, as well as honors such as Rookie of the Year, Most Improved Player, and the distinction of Most Valuable Player for two consecutive years. Currently, Jacob is pursuing a degree in Applied Physics at the University of California, Irvine. He is a certified Professional Tennis Registry (PTR) Level 1 coach, adept at training individuals across all age groups. Presently, Jacob is contributing as an assistant at the Great Park Tennis Academy and providing private lessons at the Great Park Tennis Center.
Jacob currently is an associate coach for the Great Park Tennis Academy and does private lessons and group lessons and helps with Junior Team Tennis matches and practices on weekends!
Contact Jacob at (559) 639-8091 or via email at Jacobbueno144@gmail.com
Azita
Azita Vahdat is a certified tennis coach with the Professional Tennis Registry (PTR). She has provided tennis instruction across various elementary and middle schools through the Irvine Public Schools Foundation. Tennis is her lifelong passion, and she strives to instill this love of the game in all her students. Her teaching style is characterized by consistent energy and a positive approach.
She currently is an associate for the Great Park Tennis Academy and does private lessons at the park.
Contact her at (949) 877-2250
Rozina
Rozina commenced her tennis journey at the age of six and began competing in tournaments at eight. During her formative years, she engaged in a variety of sports and music, cultivating discipline and focus. In high school, while competing in individual CIF tournaments and securing the league title, her team achieved back-to-back Division 3 and Division 1 CIF championships. For her dedication and progress, she earned the title of "Most Improved Player."
Currently pursuing a degree in psychology while competing in collegiate tennis, Rozina is a PTR-certified coach who effectively combines her athletic experience with academic insights in her coaching practice. Proficient in both English and Farsi, she provides coaching focused on holistic improvement for individuals of all ages and skill levels.
Rozina currently teaches as an associate coach for the Great Park Tennis Academy, runs a beginner adult class Sunday evenings, and does private and group lessons at Great Park
Contact her at (949) 880-6932