Smith joined the tennis coaching staff mid-way through the 2022 spring season arriving with experience coaching at Virginia Tech (women), University of Connecticut (men), Trinity College (CT) (men and women), and Glendale College (men).
James has coached competitive juniors and learned from some of the world’s best coaches at IMG Academy (FL) and Van Der Meer Tennis Academy (SC). He gained some off the court tech experience working for Playsight Interactive and SwingVison/Mangolytics (now both partnered with the Intercollegiate Tennis Association).
He began coaching tennis at age 14 compiling experience at tennis clubs in California, Michigan, and his home state of New Jersey. As a player in 2011, Smith led his Ridgewood High School (NJ) team to the state semi-finals, finishing with a 21-2 doubles record. In 2013 he was the #1 doubles/singles player and captain for the Fredrick Gunn School (CT). In three and a half seasons at Nichols College (MA), Smith led was a two-time captain for the four-time Commonwealth Coast Champions as well as three first round NCAA tournament victories. He finished his career with 95 total victories, playing mainly at the number #2 singles/#2 doubles slots.
Smith is a certified tennis coach through the Professional Tennis Registry (Hilton Head, SC).
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