The Coach Steve Clark PhD Show
with Chris Tontz,
USTA Coach for Sloan Stephens (#9 WTA) and Claire Liu (#181 WTA), and former player for Coach Clark
Hello everyone, welcome to The Coach Steve Clark PhD Show where the aim is to encourage, inspire and equip coaches, players and parents who in turn inspire and equip others to promote tennis, foster sportsmanship, and develop greater players and people. So thanks for joining me and I hope you can just sit back, relax and enjoy the conversation.
Today, is special because I get to talk with a former player of mine and it is just fantastic to see how guys move on in life, make a name for themselves and serve their communities by being great 
leaders. I could have a podcast a week with former players to share what they are doing but today I am talking with Chris Tontz, USTA national coach who coaches top US women on the tour and those up and coming. We’ll delve into various issues regarding junior tennis and particularly transitioning to college tennis and beyond.
As a junior player, Chris grew up in San Diego and was as high as #15 in the nation in the boys 18’s and #1 in Southern California. In college he went form out of the top 8 to #1 at UC Irvine, top 25 in the country, member of a conference championship team and the recipient of two very prestigious awards: The Big West Conference Scholar Athlete of the year and the Regional Arthur Ashe Sportsmanship Award. As a professional, Chris was top 155 ATP in doubles with wins over Leyton 
Hewitt and Ivan Lubicic and top 600 in singles before his shoulder injury sidelined his playing career. He used his undergraduate degree and MBA to do financial planning while he coached but now fully coaches with the USTA women’s program working with #9WTA Sloan Stephens and the #1 girl in the world and top 180WTA Claire Liu (Junior French Open finalist and Junior Wimbledon Champion).
Be sure to see CoachSteveClarkPhD.Com for other podcasts, blogs, resources and discussions.
The introduction music is “Let it Rip” by Mike and Bob Bryan band and the narrator is Wayne Bryan. Thanks for your continued support.
Special thanks to our sponsor Arrow Concrete and Asphalt Specialties, Inc. A fantastic group of professional people who do their work with integrity and relationship. See my resource page of court equipment and services for more information.