Brad Humphreys, Profile

“Dear Brad, When I came home today, I felt so appreciative of you and of all you do to make it possible for all of us to enjoy a great day like today – and so many other days. You are a wonderful person and I feel blessed to have you for a friend for so many years. You have enriched my life as well as . . .”

Many people ask me if I “still” enjoy teaching tennis after all these years and the answer is YES! I have received many letters over the years like the one above and cannot convey how rewarding teaching tennis at the San Dieguito Tennis Club has been for me.

I asked Brad to be Player of the Month this issue and here is his story.

Brad started playing tennis when he was 13 years of age, won the State Championship in the 15 & under division when he was 14 and 15, and in the 18 & under division when he was 17 and 18. He started teaching tennis for the Twin Falls, Idaho Parks and Recreation Department during the summer when he was 15 years old and has been teaching ever-since.

He attended college on a full ride tennis scholarship and graduated from Idaho State University with a B.S. Degree in Business Engineering and a M.ED with an emphasis in Counseling.

Brad has only worked for two tennis clubs during his career – the University Racquet Club in Pocatello, Idaho and the San Dieguito Tennis Club both of which are member built and member owned. The University Racquet Club was an outdoor facility and due to inclement weather was only open during the summer months. So he taught tennis during the summer and attended college during the winter.

“Early spring we would shovel snow off the court to play tennis on a sunny day and hope the temperature did not get above 32 degrees as the snow would melt causing water to run onto the court.”

Brad was Idaho State Open Champion and ranked #1 in 1964, 65, 66 and 68 (did not play in ’67). He was ranked #17 in the nation by the USPTA in 1972, and later he and Bill Bond won the USPTA National 35 Doubles Championships. Brad’s highest San Diego Open ranking was #4 behind Chico Hagey, Raul Ramirez and Brian Teacher. All three of these players went on to play professional tennis except Hagey who had a career ending injury in college.

Tennis has been very kind to Brad and he has always believed that tennis professionals have an obligation to give back to the community that has supported them. Some of Brad’s professional accomplishments are:

USTA Pro of the Year 1990
USPTA Pro of the Year 1992
Certification Tester for San Diego
San Diego Tester of the Year 1998
Inducted into ISU Sports Hall of Fame 2006
Membership Chairman San Diego Professional Tennis Association
Nominating Committee San Diego Professional Tennis Association
Past Executive Committee Member San Diego District Tennis Association
Served on San Diego Ranking Committee
Past Chairman of Organization Committee San Diego District
Served as NTRP Rating Clinician
Author of “Manual for Beginning Contract Tennis Players”
Organized and conducted a Junior Training Program for top ranked players in San Diego
Past President San Diego Professional Tennis Association
Served on the USPTA National Nominating Committee
Held one of the first prize money tournaments in San Diego
Promoted San Dieguito Tennis Club as San Diego District Tennis Club of the Year 1998
Published in Tennis Magazine
Written numerous articles for local papers and tennis publications around San Diego

Brad has also coached many nationally ranked players over the years including: John, Sandi and Tina Tsumas, Bryan and Richie Cole, Todd and Shelly Stillman, Sara Pappelbaum, Jayce and Jeffrey Fitch, Eric Riley, BJ Humphreys, Ryan Thompson, Michael and Carl Chang, Brenda Humphreys, Chris Machado, Uta Hegberg, Sheila Wilson, Carol Holder, Jane Johnson and Joe Grundtner.

Upon arriving in San Diego fresh out of college and looking for a real job, Brad met the pro teaching at San Dieguito Tennis Club, at Morley Field (everybody who could play tennis met at Morley Field in those days) and often played tennis with him. “One day he saw me at the courts and came running over to say he had been fired and that I should apply for his job.”

So Brad called the Club President and was told he would have to give a clinic to the Ladies A team and if they liked him he was hired. Talk about pressure! Who were these women he had to please? They were Sue Klatt (Novak), Mary Wiley, Fran Andrews, Sandy Undraitis, Brenda Stillman, Mary Wheelock, Lorlei Petersen, and Mary Lee Irwin. Luckily for Brad he passed with flying colors and as they say “the rest is history”.

“I am overwhelmed by the fact that I am now teaching third generation students and realize the enjoyment tennis has played in many people’s lives. Imagine playing tennis with your grandchildren and giving them the opportunity to experience the same joy that you have shared with other people for so many years.” Tennis truly is “The Sport of a Lifetime”.

Some of Brad’s three generations of students are: Isabella and Alexanda Paydar – Jackie Paydar – Bob and Lucie Walther; Riley and Jackson Scott – Shelly Stillman – Brenda Humphreys; Elizabeth and Cecelia Kennedy -Terry Klatt – Sue Novak; Courtney Swan – Annie Swan – Ed and Mary Wiley; Julie Isa and Suzzane Klein – Kathy Andrews – Chris and Fran Andrews; David and Ray Bourhenne – Carol Bourhenne Gus and Alma Bourhenne.

“I have derived tremendous satisfaction from teaching and working at the San Dieguito Tennis Club and appreciate the kindness and cooperation extended to me from the membership. The San Dieguito Tennis Club is very much a family to me and I look forward to making your days at the Club pleasurable and rewarding. If there is something that you need, let me know and I will try to help.”