Futures Coaching & Administration Staff
Futures Tennis is a full time tennis academy which has been in operation for over 25 years. Our coaching staff reflect this with over 100 years of tennis coaching experience between them and well over 15,000 pupils coached since our company was formed. We believe that our current team of coaches are the best we have ever had. All our coaches are Qualified by Tennis Australia and are either Junior Club Professionals, Club Coach Professionals or Master Club Professionals which means they have either attended a coaching course for six months, one year or two years. They all must have insurance cover and regularly update their knowledge to stay accredited. Many of our coaches have never held any other job apart from coaching tennis. Our team is dedicated, committed and passionate about providing all pupils with the ultimate coaching experience. We regularly hold our own Professional Development Days [as seen below] to keep abreast of modern sport science and biomechanical changes along with general teaching principals.
FTA Director:
Wes Horskins [TA Club Professional Coach]
Wes was an outstanding junior player. His results included twice reaching the semi-finals of the Australian Junior Championships & winning numerous junior tournaments in Melbourne. Overseas he won prestigious National Titles such as the Czechoslovakian National Junior Championships & the Swiss National Junior Title.
Wes represented Australia in the World Junior Esso Challenge & Victoria in both the Wayne Reid & Linton Cup teams. In 1980 Wes was ranked the number one junior in Victoria & in the top five in Australia. At just seventeen years of age Wes played State Grade number one [the highest open grade in Victoria] and won six of his seven singles matches.
Wes played the Mens ATP circuit for seven years, playing in many of the worlds largest tournaments including Grand Slam events such as the main draw of the Australian Open singles and doubles and the qualifying event of the French & Wimbledon Championships. Wes' highest Australian Singles Ranking was #39, World Singles Ranking of #398 & World Doubles Ranking of #252. Wes also represented Oklahoma State University with a full scholarship before starting his career in tennis coaching at the prestigious Aquarius Tennis Centre in Marbella, Spain coaching the top Andalucian juniors.
Wes eventually settled back into Melbourne coaching & managing at numerous clubs while completing his Diploma of Education. Wes has also served a total of ten years as a Board Member of the TCAV [Tennis Coaches Association of Victoria] assisting in the development of coach related issues through out Victoria. He was recently voted by Victorian/Tasmanian coaches to represent them as one of the eight coaches on the NCAG [National Coaching Advisory Group] for the Victoria and Tasmania catchment regions. The NCAG meet with Tennis Australia staff to discuss and implement National tennis coaching strategies. Wes has made a living from either playing or coaching tennis for his entire life. This wealth of knowledge & experience Wes has now passed onto his coaching academy & to his numerous coaches.
Wes continues to play tennis representing Australia twice in the over 35 World Team Championships and in 2000 he reached the singles quarter finals of the over 35 World Individual Championships in Amsterdam, Holland. He also won the Australian 35 and over Claycourt Championships in 2000. Wes was ranked in the top ten players in the world 35's in the year 2000. In 2009 finally won his first pennant flag playing for Kooyong in the Grade One Vets team.
Coach Profiles:
Futures coaches are all Full Time Qualified Tennis Australia Coaches.
David Philpott [TA Club Professional Coach]
David is Head Coach at East Malvern Tennis Club and Korowa Girls School. David also is in charge of the Friday Night Competition and is our main racquet re-stringer. David’s other virtues include a great sense of humour and being an avid Bomber supporter. David is an outstanding coach and has coached for Futures for fifteen years. David was also ranked in the top ten juniors in Victoria for his age group.
Marcus Djuric [TA Club Professional Coach] 
Marcus is Head Coach of Ardrie Park Tennis Club and Solway Primary School. Marcus was recently married in Croatia. He is a gentle giant being the tallest, of a group of tall coaches, at 6" 4'. Marcus is also an outstanding coach and has coached for Futures for a period of ten years. Marcus and David play in the same Grade 1 VTA pennant team. Marcus is also the current East Malvern Tennis Club Club Champion!
Ian Fuelscher [GTA Club Professional Coach]
Ian is German and is one of our Head Coaches at East Malvern Tennis Club. His father is a well known media commentator in Germany and we believe this explains his out-going nature [as seen by his dance moves at the last staff party]. Ian is heaps of fun with juniors and adults alike. Apart from his huge personality Ian brings to Futures a European flavour which keeps our Victorian coaches abreast of the latest coaching trends. Ian runs the Saturday morning Hot Shots program at Ardrie Park Tennis Club and assist David with the Friday night comp. Ian is another sensational Futures coach.
Rob Mescher [TA Developmental Coach]
Rob coached full time for Futures for a period of ten years but has recently been employed as a Primary School teacher in Camberwell teaching a combined class of Prep and Grade 1. So who better to employ as our specialist Head Coach of the Saturday Morning “Hot Shots Program” for 4-7 year olds! Rob, as are all our coaches, is a talented player playing Grade One VTA Pennant and is yet another fantastic Futures coach.
Jeff Klyne [TA Club Professional Coach]
Prior to joining Futures Jeff lived and coached on the Gold Coast in Queensland. Jeff has been a full time coach for five years with Futures and is Head Coach of St John’s Tennis Club in Elsternwick. Jeff has an outstanding rapport with all his pupils and is possibly the most well liked coach we have. Jeff is one of our Hot Shot coaches and assists with our re-stringing as well. Jeff has just completed his Tennis Australia Club Professional Coaching Course.
Kate Francis [TA Developmental Coach]
Kate has also been coaching for Futures for four years. Previously Kate was the number one player and Captain of the School tennis team at Geelong College. Kate often coaches our female junior, squad and private classes. Kate is an excellent coach who shows a genuine interest and concern in each pupil’s development. Kate plays Grade Two VTA Pennant and is currently studying Exercise Science.
Tim Miles [TA Developmental Coach] 
Tim is a past student of the academy and has been coaching for two years at East Malvern Tennis Club. Tim has just completed his TA Developmental Coaching Course. Tim has a affectious enthusiasm for his coaching and an outstanding rapport with all his students. Tim is in his third year of studying Sports Pyschology at Deakin University.
Damien Mescher [TA Trainee Coach]
Damien is the younger brother of Rob and is equally as talented a tennis coach and player. Damien is about to commence his coaching course next season. Damien comes from a long family tradition of tennis and is a former pupil of Futures for twelve years having been a former Grand Slam Winner of our rewards program. Damien is twenty one years old and is in his third year of University studying Engineering and also plays VTA pennant for East Malvern Tennis Club.
Jack Sanford [TA Developmental Coach]
Jack is twenty years Jack is twenty years oldand was a former Futures pupil for ten years. He represented Melbourne Grammar in their first tennis team. He also played grade four VTA pennant. Jack is now concentrating on finishing his second year of a Commerce/Economics degree. He is a Saints supporter and his favourite player is Stephen Milne... try not to hold that aginst him! Jack is great with the kids and sites his enthusiasm as his best quality.
Simon Willow [TA Developmental Coach] 
Simon is also twenty years old and is also a past student of Futures and has been coaching for us for 18 months. He is a qualified TA Developmental Coach. He has played grade four pennant for East Malvern Tennis Club and is currently studying also a Commerce / Economics degree with Jack.
Lucette Horskins [Part time Office Administrator] 
Lucy [Wes' wife] has assisted Futures as assistant administrator for four years. Lucy recently resigned as Store Manager of French Connection at Chadstone and has much experience in dealing with customers and organising staff. She has a Diploma of Hospitality [Management]. Lucy also assists running our Hot Shots modified competition.
David Jonkers [Office Manager & TA Club Professional Coach]
David is a Kiwi who joined our team in April 2008. David is a career coach having run 
his own coaching business in Nelson, New Zealand, for for thirteen years. David worked with beginner juniors through to high performance players. During his time there he coached nine players who represented New Zealand at age group level, attended many National Individual and Team Events as Central Districts Regional Coach, and coached a New Zealand 12's Team in test matches against Australia in Dunedin and Melbourne. New Zealand's No.1 Davis Cup player Daniel King-Turner spent his early development years with David who took him to a 14's National Title before Daniel moved to Christchurch. Although David is very serious about his coaching he has a laid back nature and enjoys sharing a joke with the kids and adults he coaches. He is, though, an avid All Blacks fan..
Recruitment
Futures Tennis Academy is always looking for suitably qualified coaches. If you are interested in coaching on our team please send your C.V to our address, but please note, you must be a Qualified Tennis Australia Developmental Coach or higher [or have the equivalent qualification from the ITF - International Tennis Federation]. If you are highly motivated to want to learn how to become a coach call our office or look up the Tennis Australia Web Site for more information.