Top Pro
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Gresham Academy
Top Pro

Gresham Academy

5.0Exceptional(51)
Hawthorne, CA

About

I love to see my students gain confidence and develop control of their strokes. I like to put targets on the court and have my students try to hit them.

I also like to play points with them while challenging them mentally and physically. Practicing points with small incentives and a little pressure helps develop confidence.

I love to help my students improve their skills. I like laughing while working hard with my students. Watching them accomplish their goals makes me happy! When they see improvements we win as a team.

I have been teaching tennis for over 30 years. I worked at USC and learned under the legendary coach Richard Leach. I worked for the USTA and the inner city program NJTL. I have also worked my own program for over 20 years and have developed top ranked juniors.

That is what I enjoy!


Highlights

Hired 71 times
3 employees
27 years in business
Serves Hawthorne, CA

Payment methods

Cash, Zelle

Specialties

Experience level

No experience, Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced

Student age(s)

Under 5 years old, 5 – 10 years old, 11 – 13 years old, 14 – 18 years old, 19 – 25 years old, 26 – 45 years old, 46 – 65 years old, Over 65 years old

Photos and videos


  • Reviews

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    Your trust means everything to us. Learn about our reviews policy.

    MM

    maria M.

    I highly recommend Coach D! He has been wonderful to work with and has helped my son develop both his tennis skills and his confidence on the court. Coach D is very knowledgeable and genuinely loves the game. One thing I’ve really appreciated is how well he reads each student. He k owes when to encourage my son to push himself and when to ease up., which has made a big difference in keeping tennis fun while still helping him improve. His enthusiasm for tennis is contagious, and it’s clear he cares about his students’ growth. I’m very grateful for the time, patience, and dedication he’s shown my son.
    ... Show more
    July 05, 2026

    EA

    ersin A.

    Great person. Very proficient, patient coach.
    ... Show more
    June 29, 2026

    SE

    sofia E.

    I highly recommend coach D! He is extremely knowledgeable, experienced, and patient. Every lesson is well-structured, with clear instruction and personalized feedback that has helped my daughter learn her technique and confidence on the court. His ability to explain concepts in a simple and encouraging way makes learning enjoyable. If youre looking for a coach who genuinely cares about your progress and creates a positive learning environment, he is the perfect choice.
    ... Show more
    June 29, 2026

    CT

    clifton T.

    It’s been a great experience having my daughter learn under Coach D. She’s a beginner and had a little anxiety, but Coach D has been patient and encouraging with her. His expert knowledge is apparent and matches a teaching style that meets people where they are. Working with Coach D has proven to be the right choice.
    ... Show more
    June 28, 2026

    EC

    erin C.

    I really enjoy the way he coaches my son. He’s encouraging and supportive but he is also effective at pushing my son to truly honor his athleticism in his game. Coach is clear in his instructions and consistently sends us additional materials to improve our son’s game.
    ... Show more
    May 16, 2026

    IS

    ishra S.

    Coach D is awesome! He really cares about tennis and his skills are obvious. He makes practice enjoyable and progress seen so early. He makes you WANT to train and play all the time!
    ... Show more
    November 26, 2025

    Frequently asked questions

    I like to ask the student what would they like to improve on. What are their strengths and weaknesses. What is your goal and how much work are you willing to put in.

    I do have a bachelors degree in business, but my tennis resume is strong as well. I volunteered coached at USC under the legendary coach Dick Leach for over 10 years. I have coached at various levels,professionally,college and junior tennis. I have over 30 years of knowledge and tennis experience.

    <br><a href="https://lessons.com/ca/los-angeles/tennis-lessons/" target="_blank"><img src="//cdn.lessons.com/assets/images/tmp/lessons-2020.png" width="150"></a><br>

    I am not trying to get rich teaching tennis. I love to teach and watch a student improve. I charge $70 to $100 per hour for a private lesson. Group lessons with 2 to 4 $60 an hour. 

    I played tennis as a teenager and I am self taught. I played in high school on a good tennis team where I shared the #1 position with a close friend. I also played junior college tennis at Pierce college where I played at the #3 and 4 position. I thank my older brother for getting me started.

    I have worked with children, juniors,adults, college players and professionals.

    Several of my younger students who are from the ages of 10 - 16 are playing tournaments now and are qualifying to play for their high school tennis teams. I absolutely love watching my students improve and reach their goals through working hard and putting in the hard yards!

    Look for someone who you are comfortable talking with and someone you can share your ideas with. Ask the teacher questions and don't be afraid to question them about things. Make sure they have experience and are willing to support your goals. Remember this is all about improving and enjoying the process.

    A student needs to know what their goals are and be realistic about how much they are willing to work for it. There are junior tournament goals, high school goals, college and the weekend player who just wants to get out there and enjoy a friendly game. 

    The key is to have fun and enjoy yourself.


    Services offered

    Tennis