MY STORY
After playing Division 1 College Tennis at Middle Tennessee State University (MTSU), I set out on a mission to become the best coach I could be.
The first chapter of my career focused on skill development across all levels, eventually leading to coaching Australiaâs world junior tennis teams. But by the mid-2000s, I was burnt out. I realised I was no longer bringing out the best in my players â or myself.
Thatâs when I stepped away from the game and met Natalie Ashdown, CEO of Open Door Coaching â an extraordinary coach and mentor. Natalie introduced me to a whole new approach to coaching. My style shifted from directing and âtelling,â to listening and asking powerful questions. I learned how to truly coach for clarity, confidence, and connection.
My definition of coaching evolved from needing to âknow all the answersâ to something far more powerful:
âCoaching is unlocking a personâs potential to maximise their own performance. Itâs helping them to learn, not just teaching them.â
That shift changed everything. Itâs why Iâve partnered with Open Door Coaching â to bring the Aussie way of coaching into the hearts and minds of leaders and companies across the USA.
THE PATH WASNâT LINEAR
From a young age, I knew I wanted to be a coach â but it wasnât a straightforward journey. I wasnât a top-level junior. I didnât play on the pro tour. And I doubted myself often.
But I never lost my curiosity or drive to be the best coach I could be. After taking my first tennis lesson at age 14, I walked off the court thinking, âThis is the greatest job in the world.â
Since then, Iâve had the privilege of learning from some of the worldâs best coaches â including Nick Bollettieri, Judy Murray, and Patrick Mouratoglou in sport, and Claude Silver, Natalie Ashdown, and Tracey Ezard in business. These experiences have helped shape my coaching lens and fuelled my passion for helping others unlock their potential.
As the host of The Coaching Podcast, Iâve interviewed over 500 leading coaches in sport and business â uncovering the stories, mindsets, and strategies behind great coaching.
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Together with Natalie Ashdown, I co-authored the book What Makes a Great Coach? â a true passion project and professional milestone that brings together decades of lived experience, powerful stories, and practical tools for coaches and leaders everywhere.
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đ What Makes a Great Coach?