P&HCC Assistant Vice President for Student Engagement and Inclusion/Athletic Director, Brian Henderson, has announced the hiring of Jon Smith as the head men’s and women’s tennis coach starting play in fall 2022.
Smith played high school tennis at Carlisle School, where he earned All-Conference honors during his time with the Chiefs. Smith then went on to continue his tennis career at Averett University where he also earned a bachelor’s degree in sports management with a minor in communication studies. While playing for the Cougars, Smith earned All-Academic Team honors and was inducted into the National College Athlete Honor Society.
After Averett, Smith worked with the Southside Area Tennis Association (SATA) aiding in outreach, after school, and high-performance juniors programs. Starting in 2017, Smith helped SATA grow from a staff of two dedicated coaches, to six coaches, countless volunteers, and a board for the non-profit organization. Later, Smith became an assistant tennis professional at Chatmoss Country Club, where he taught private lessons to all ages, directed socials, and ran junior and adult clinics.
“We feel tennis is a sport that is beloved by many in our community,” said Henderson. “By adding it to our list of programs, young student-athletes will have a chance to continue playing the sport they love while pursuing a degree and P&HCC. Coach Smith’s passion and knowledge for the game has already been shown and we look forward to watching him provide opportunities for our PHamily.”
For information or to join the P&H tennis team, contact Henderson at bhenderson@patrickhenry.edu.