 | Tennis Staff and ProfessionalsThese are the friendly faces of your City of Irvine Tennis Professionals, all of whom are USPTA or PTR Certifed. They offer both group and private lessons at various City parks. To register for a class, please call registration at 949-724-6610. Only the instructors shown are authorized to teach at this facility. All unauthorized commercial use (lesson, tournaments, etc.) on City courts is a misdemeanor, pursuant to Irvine Municipal code, section III.G-201. Please contact the Tennis Coordinator at 949-724-6617 or sriggs@cityofirvine.org if you would like to: -
schedule a private lesson -
speak with one of the instructors -
report an individual posing as a City instructor/teaching illegally -
information on how to become a City Tennis Instructor -
get further information regarding the City of Irvine’s Tennis Program Lessons and programs are available in other languages:
Chinese - Di
Korean - Young Kee & Tae
Japanese - Minako
Spanish - Juan & Elena
Click Here to Meet the Tennis Staff
Click on the Professional's Picture for a Biography | Adam Blair Adam Blair has over 9 years teaching experience working with many different skill levels of tennis players from nationally ranked junior tennis players, to beginning adults, to coaching recreational league teams. Adam has been participating in tennis tournaments since the age of 7 with many tournament wins which lead to a collegiate athletic tennis career. Since teaching tennis Adam has held the titles of assistant tennis professional, head tennis professional, tennis director, and is now the owner of his own tennis business working with the City of Irvine as an experienced tennis professional. Adam can answer your tennis questions and help you reach whatever level you are wanting in tennis. Adam is current teaching at Citrus Glenn Neighborhood Park and Turtle Rock Community Park. | | Chris Emery For over 15 years Chris Emery has run junior lessons and leagues for the City of Irvine’s community service tennis program, offering grass roots classes to competitive teams. Getting kids started and giving them a chance to pursue a goal of playing tournaments or high school tennis is what Chris loves to do for the kids. Chris graduated in 1981 from UCI (#2 singles), and played professional events for several years attaining an ATP ranking in singles and doubles. Coaching highlights include National and State USA Team Tennis Champions, and seeing former students receive college scholarships! Chris teaches at Heritage Community Park.
| | Di Lin Di Lin was the former #1 tennis player in China in the early 1990’s and was a member of the Chinese Davis Cup Team. At the peak of his playing career, Di won the Asian Championship in 1991. After retiring in 1995, Di coached professionally in China before moving to Malaysia to coach the Malaysian Junior National Team in early 2000. In late 2006, Di moved to Irvine to coach in one of the largest city run tennis programs in the U.S. Di now teaches his classes at Citrus Glen Park and runs the Junior Development Group at Lower Peters Canyon Park. Di can speak Mandarin fluently.
| | Elena Espiro In 2003, Elena Espiro moved to Irvine and discovered tennis. As a newcomer to the game, she attended tennis clinics and she has been playing ever since. In March 2007, Elena joined the City of Irvine tennis staff. Since January 2009, Elena has been the USTA Team Organizer for the City of Irvine Tennis Program. She is also a member of the Professional Tennis Registry (PTR); a trained USTA tournament umpire and has attended numerous tennis related trainings such as cardio tennis.
| Jimmy Gleason
Jimmy Gleason moved here from Kalamazoo, Michigan, where he has been coaching beginners to tournament players in the Laguna area for the last 2 years. He is a USPTA P1 and is also certified as a Professional in Modern Tennis Methodology (MTM). He has been teaching tennis for twenty years and has always searching for the best techniques to help anyone of any level play better tennis. Jimmy has established a foundation to excel at any level. He was a standout as a Division 1 collegiate player at Western Michigan and later played on the professional’s tour. He has taught at every level up to and including a boy’s high school team and was an assistant to a college team. Jimmy developed the Gleason Tennis Academy where he developed over 200 players this year. He believes that tennis is a vehicle for something far greater, where players can develop their games as well as their character while competing in the great sport of tennis. He has personally worked extensively with coaches such as Bill Adams (Andres Gomez’ coach), Pete Fischer (Sampras’ former coach) and with world renowned tennis coach Oscar Wegner. As a new tennis coach for the City of Irvine, he is determined to help players of any age or level become the best team they can be. Jimmy is currently teaching at Valley Oak Park and Deerfield Community Park.
| | John Staph John Staph was the Head Varsity Coach for Calvary Chapel High School Boys Tennis Team and he now teaches at Valley Oak Park in Irvine. John is a certified PTR & MTM (modern tennis methodology) instructor trained under the direct guidance of world-renowned coach Oscar Wegner, he has conducted clinics with Oscar and is considered one of Oscar’s top instructors in Southern California! The MTM method of playing tennis shows how the pros actually hit in today’s modern game. MTM is a methodology based on learning to play more naturally concentrating on developing a personally effective, natural technique and style, unlike conventional teaching of the past. Come out and learn how to hit the modern way with John making tennis easy and fun! He is currently teaching at Valley Oak Park. "I believe my game will improve as much as 30-40% because of your coaching methods… that’s a lot"
- Dan D "It is a blast to do rallies with John because of the caliber of his tennis skills and the fact that he really enjoys hitting that tennis ball. Attitude is everything in teaching and it is a lot of fun to have a lesson with John."
- Fay K "John is extremely knowledgeable as a coach, and my tennis game has benefited tremendously from his advice and teaching skills. His keen insight and his ability to ascertain each player’s potential is a great asset."
- Marenna "John is a very good coach and personable individual, and an expert in the modern tennis coaching methodology with which I helped boom tennis in several parts of the world.I can recommend John both for his coaching proficiency and for his honorable character."
- Oscar Wegner
World Renown Tennis Coach & Creator of the MTM System
| Juan Naranjo
Juan Pablo Naranjo was born in Bogotá, Colombia. As a junior, Juan traveled all over the country playing in every major junior tournament. He also trained at Nick Bollettieri Tennis Academy for a full summer when he was 14 where he gained tons of experience and knowledge. By the time Juan was 18, he was ranked in the top 20 in juniors. After that, Juan moved to the U.S. to go to school. He moved to Pensacola, Florida where he went to Pensacola Junior College and also taught tennis at the Roger Scott Tennis Center for 3 years. When Juan was done with his AA degree, he moved to Tampa, FL to finish his college education at University of South Florida. Every summer while Juan was a student, he worked as an Assistant Director for a tennis program at a camp called Taconic, located in the Berkshire Mountains in Massachusetts. The Professional Tennis Registry certified Juan as a professional coach in 2000. He moved to California a couple of years ago and now he has the great opportunity to work for the City of Irvine. Juan now teaches at University Community Park. He can speak Spanish fluently.
| | Jun Espiritu Jun Espiritu has been playing tennis for over ten years and has played competitively for eight years. He started competing when he was twelve years old and played throughout his junior years. When Jun attended high school, he played numbers one and two varsity for all four years. When Jun graduated from high school, he went to El Camino Community College to play two years at number one doubles and numbers one, two, or three singles spots. Jun has been teaching for five years. As a junior, he spent his summers teaching children the fundamentals of tennis. While in college, Jun was hired to work in Irvine as an assistant teaching professional and is now currently working for the City of Irvine as a tennis instructor at Knollcrest Park.
| Lanea Holesinsky
Prior to becoming a Tennis Professional for the City Of Irvine, Lanea spent over 18 years in the field of early Childhood Education as well as in Administration for Young Children Management. Special skills include working with children and adults with disabilities. Her favorite part of her work has been the opportunity to create exercise materials and curriculum both for fine motor and gross motor skill development. Giving children and adults a variety of exercises to enhance their physical coordination as well as their concentration to perform in any activity they choose. Lanea has been fortunate to be able to get involved in sports her whole life starting at age 3, mostly Soccer, Softball and Dance. Her passion for tennis came about the very first time she hit a tennis ball. In comparison to the other sports, Lanea never thought tennis could be so exciting, so challenging and so much fun! Lanea is currently a PTR Certified Professional and a member of the USTA. She serves on the advisory staff of HEAD/PENN. Lanea is an Irvine resident and enjoys playing competitive tennis. Her hobbies include traveling, photography and sports. She is currently teaching classes at Turtle Rock Community Park, starting from ages 3 and up. | | Minako Inoue A consummate sports professional and PTR (Professional Tennis Registry) pro since 1991, Minako Inoue has a passion for tennis, a love of teaching, and a talent for creating joyful tennis experiences for players of any age, skill, or background.A quick study in terms of analyzing court strengths and weaknesses, she is adept at providing simple, easy-to-master techniques designed to quickly improve your game. Minako earned a bachelor’s degree in physical education in 1986 at the Tokyo Women's College of Physical Education (Kunitachi) and a teacher’s credential in physical education for junior and high school.In 1985, she helped the TWCPE tennis team win the NCAA-Japan (National Collegiate Athletic Association) doubleschampionship and Eastern Japan College Tennis Tournament title. Minako was an amateur Japanese triathlete champion with corporate sponsors such as Bollé Performance Eyewear.She worked in marketing for ten years at Nike and traveled frequently on their behalf to the US.In 1991, she began teaching tennis at the Hotel New Otani (Chiba) where she helped develop a variety of tennis programs and trained many adults and juniors.Moving to Southern California in early 2001, she taught at clubs in La Jolla and Pacific Beach before being invited to Olympic Resort & Spa in Carlsbad to be their tennis pro.After leaving Carlsbad, Minako divided her time between the Bobby Riggs Tennis Club (Encinitas) and the El Camino Country Club (Oceanside).In October 2008, she was hired to be the new Tennis Professional at Las Lomas Community Park, where she is currently teaching group and private lessons. Along with being a PTR Professional Tennis Coach, Minako is a certified personal trainer, an American Red Cross-certified WSI swimming instructor, a CMAS (Confédération Mondiale des Activités Subaquatiques) 2-star scuba-diving instructor, and a Surf Life Saver.She speaks fluent in Japanese.
| | Rick Jackson Rick Jackson started playing tennis late in life with friends. He started taking lessons and after several years, started teaching tennis. After being an assistant to Chris Emery for a few years, Rick wanted to teach his own students on his own courts and the City of Irvine gave him that chance. Needless to say, Rick loves the sport and enjoys teaching the game to all ages. Rick has been playing for 20 years and teaching for the City of Irvine for 12 years. He was a member of the USPTA for 10 years, but now he is a member of the PTR. Rick has been an Instructor for The Amateur Athletic Foundation Southern California National Junior Tennis League and coached junior team tennis players for about 6 years. Rick teaches at Knollcrest Park.
| | Rommel Endozo Rommel Endozo has been teaching tennis for the City of Irvine for the past 7 years. He started his tennis career training and playing tournaments in Chicago, Illinois before moving to Irvine to play at Woodbridge High School. Rommel then went on to play on the Irvine Valley College Men’s Tennis team, also the place where he would eventually go on to coach. After a couple more coaching stops, he started teaching for the City of Irvine. Rommel is currently teaching at Northwood Community and Citrus Glen Parks.
| | Ross Holesinsky Ross Holesinsky began playing tennis as an 8-year-old boy in the little town of Klimkovice in the Czech Republic. After becoming a school champion, he entered competitive tennis by becoming a club player. He played on the Czech junior tour and joined the club team tennis league. He was able to play internationally and interschool tournaments in Sweden, Italy and Poland. When he was about 17 he became an assistant to the head coach in Vladan Pivoda’s Tennis Academy in Ostrava, Czech Republic. In 1998, he came to United States and became an assistant for Chris Emery at Heritage Community Park. In 2004, he signed a contract with City of Irvine. In addition, Ross is a USPTA Certified and serves on the advisory staff of Head & K-Swiss. He runs tennis clinics, team tennis and private lessons at Turtle Rock Community Park. Recently Coach Ross was awarded the “2007 Head /Penn Advisory Pro of the Year.”
| | Ruben Millado Ruben Millado has over 20 years of teaching experience. He has taught in the Palos Verdes and Torrance communities of Southern California and the Harbor Bay Club in Northern California. He played briefly for UCLA and later played for Cal State University Dominguez Hills (NAIA Nationals Championships, 1976). He also played on the Southern California 1995 USTA 5.0 Men’s National Team in 1995, and the 1994 & 1995 Southern California USTA 10.0 Mixed Doubles National Championship Team. Ruben’s tennis teaching philosophy emphasizes having fun and learning the fundamentals in all aspects of the game, because without a strong foundation a student will not be able to reach their full potential. Tennis is a lifetime sport and every student can be successful. Ruben has taught at Col. Bill Barber Municipal Park the past 4 years
| | Tae Byon Tae Byon started playing tennis tournaments in New York when he was 12 years old. His highest ranking was #17 in the North-Eastern Section of the USTA, 18 and -under Division. Tae received a full athletic scholarship to the University of Stony Brook and played top Singles and Doubles. After college, he trained in Korea for two months with amateurs/professionals. Tae then headed to the Chris Evert Tennis Academy in Florida where he taught under Guillerme Raoux, who was once top 30 in the world, and Andi Brandi who led the University of Florida women's team to win 3 three NCAA Division 1 Championships. He also trained with top professionals and national junior players. He returned to New York and continued playing tournaments and was ranked #11 in the North-Eastern Men’s Open Division. In 2003, he taught at the US OPEN National Tennis Center in Flushing Meadows. A year later, he continued his teaching at a private club and taught juniors and adults of all levels and ages. Tae now teaches at Homestead Park and speaks Korean fluently.
| | Young Kee Choi Young Kee Choi has been teaching in the City of Irvine for a number of years at Racquet Club Park. His coaching experience includes being a high school boy’s and girl’s coach for 4 years and he is currently coaching a player playing for Irvine Valley College. He has been a member of the USPTA for the 12 years. Kee speaks Korean fluently.
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