Teaching Pro Staff
The best tennis pros in Chicago!
Manny Velasco | Head Pro
- All-State Illinois high school player all four years
- Varsity player at the University of Illinois (Team Captain in Senior year)
- Assistant coach at University of Illinois (1 year)
- Started teaching tennis with his father at 11 years old
- Director of Springfield Summer Camp at 16 years old
- Senior Pro at Edens Tennis Club for 12 years
- Worked at Five Seasons for 14 years (Head Pro for 6 years)
- 45 years of teaching experience
Jeremy Tranter | Director of Junior Programs
- Director of Junior Programs at River Trails, one of the top junior development programs in the Chicagoland area, with 400% growth in junior engagement since founding
- Founded the River Trails Junior Tennis Academy in 2014
- 1992-96: Top-5 junior in CDTA 16s & 18s
- 1994-96: Trained at Rick Macci Tennis Academy
- Began full-time coaching career in 2000, with primary focus on junior development programs
- 2010-14: Director of Adult Tennis and Junior Development at the Lincolnshire Club (Lincolnshire, IL)
Megan Nguyen | Teaching Pro
- Four-year varsity athlete and state qualifier at Metamora High School.
- Former D2 collegiate player at Lewis University
- Has been teaching tennis professionally in the Chicago area for more than 7 years
- Safe Play certified
- Coordinates Junior Team Tennis/Junior match play.
- Has experience coaching experience with players at all levels.
- Member of 4.5 women’s 18+ USTA national championship team
Ken Sitar | Teaching Pro
- Grew up in the Northwest Suburbs of Chicago and began his tennis career at the age of 5 as a student of River Trails Tennis Center.
- River Trails coaches inspired his passion for the game.
- Came back to coaching tennis in 2016 after a career change.
- Constantly seeking about and learning about new teaching methods and the game itself.
- Grateful to be surrounded by an amazing staff, driven students, and supportive parents.
David Lee | Teaching Pro
- Teaching pro at River Trails since 2005
- Teaches students of all agers and skill levels, emphasizing key fundamentals
- Gives students the freedom to “fill in the blanks” while they discover their tennis game