Recruitment
Come join a Newcombe Medal winning team! Futures Tennis Academy is always searching for the best quality professional coaches. If you are interested in coaching on our team please send your C.V. to our address. Please note you must be a Qualified Tennis Australia Developmental Coach or higher [or have the equivalent qualification from the I.T.F. – International Tennis Federation]. If you are highly motivated to want to learn how to become a coach please call our office, or look up the Tennis Australia website, for more information.
Futures Staff
Futures Tennis is a full-time tennis academy which has been in operation for over 31 years.
Our team, including international coaches and previously world ranked pro's are dedicated, committed and passionate about providing all pupils with a successful coaching experience.
Importantly, our staff have also been trained to "Play by the Rules " [see attached document for our Child Safety Standards]. Our coaches have working with children checks, first aid training, insurance and regularly update their knowledge to stay accredited.
![Wes Horskins [FTA Director / Tennis Australia Master Club Professional]](https://www.futurestennis.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/lessons-1.jpg "Wes Horskins [FTA Director / Tennis Australia Master Club Professional]")
Wes Horskins
Awards: 2010 TCAV Club Coach of the Year; 2011 Victorian Tennis Awards Coaching Excellence Hot Shots; 2011 Winner Australian Tennis Awards: Hot Shots Coach of the Year; 2012 Winner Australian Tennis Awards: Club Coach of the Year; 2013 Finalist Victorian [All] Sports; 2016 Winner Australian Tennis Awards: Most Outstanding Club/Centre [East Malvern TC]. 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 World Level 2 tier National Titles such as the Czechoslovakian Junior Championships [Slovakia] & the Swiss National Junior Title [Landquart]. 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 & four in Australia for juniors his age group. 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 Men’s 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 #35, 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 Haza Del Algarobbo Tennis Centre in Fuengirola, Spain coaching many of 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 eight years as a Board Member of the T.C.A.V. [Tennis Coaches Association of Victoria] assisting in the development of coach related issues through out Victoria. He has also been the elected representative on the N.C.A.G. [National Coaching Advisory Group] for all Victorian and Tasmanian coaches from 2009-2016. 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. In 2000 he reached the quarter finals of the over 35 World Singles and Doubles Championships in Amsterdam, Holland. The same year he also won the Australian 35 and over Clay Court Championships. In 2000 Wes was ranked in the top ten players in the world 35’s I.T.F. rankings. Wes still plays the VTA Pennant Men’s Open Doubles winning the flag in 09, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15 & 17.
David Wildsmith
David has coached for 25 years and has a deep passion for the game. He has joined Futures as our full time Operations Manager Monday to Friday. His playing experience includes 10 years of playing Victoria’s most elite grade of pennant, State grade, which would have place him in the top 100 players in Australia. He has coached beginners through to Nationally ranked players including his own two sons. He is a close friends of Wes’ and has been a great addition to our qualified coaching and admin staff.
Kelvin McLean
Kelvin was an outstanding junior player winning the School Boys Championship for three consecutive years and being ranked in the top five in Australia for his age group. He then played the ATP seniors tour where he achieved a career high ATP ranking of 605 and doubles of 430. His thirty one years of coaching experience includes being the Head Coach at Geelong Lawn Tennis Club, Sunshine Coast Regional Club Coach and being an assistant coach with Nick Bollettieri Tennis Academy USA and assistant to the National Tennis Coach in China. More recently he has returned to Australia from being the Tennis Director of the British Club in Singapore. His long history includes coaching raw beginners all the way through to international champions such as Li Na [ Winner Australian Open] and Sebastian Grojean [French top ten player]. He is both qualified in Australia and the United States.
Renato Moreira
Renato is the HEAD Coach at East Malvern Tennis Club. He is a Tennis Australia Club Coach Professional and has coached full time in Australia for over 25 years. He is, though, originally from Brazil - yes he loves both Soccer and Salsa dancing! Renato managed his own club, Tullarmarine TC, before starting with Futures in term 3 2018. Renato is not just a passionate coach but one who has many years of experience coaching all ages from beginner red ball players to state ranked pupils. Renato is not just an excitment machine but also a great fellow! We are excited about having Renato join our team of experienced coaches.
Robert Peterson
Rob is Head Coach at East Malvern Tennis Club. He is a Tennis Australia Club Professional and U.S.P.T.A. qualified coach with over 30 years of coaching experience. He has coached at his own clubs in Melbourne and internationally at Port Washington Tennis Academy, USA. In 2002 he won the T.C.A.V. Club Coach of the Year. As a junior player Rob won the Schoolboys Championship of Victoria and as a senior he was a State Grade player. He is a life member of the T.C.A.V. and long time board member. Rob is passionate and extremely enthusiastic teaching the game to all levels and has an abundance of tennis knowledge to pass onto his pupils.
Gael Courbard
Gael starting playing tennis at 5 years old. He quickly developed into a top French junior playing in the French Open Junior Championships as an 18 year old. As a senior he played national and international tournaments and had wins over players in the top 250 A.T.P. and achieved a French ranking in the top 100 Open players. At 22 years Gael decided to commence his coaching career and became a qualified French Club Coach Professional. For eight years he worked for his own club at Tennis Club Camaret Sur Aiges - Provence in the south of France. Whilst there he developed kids from junior level to reaching the top 500 W.T.A. and A.T.P. rankings although he still loves coaching pupils of all ages and standards. Gael decided to come to Australia due to some close friend ships he has here in Melbourne and to further his experience and career. We are proud and excited to have such a distinguished coach join our team. Gael also is a huge fan of Novak Djokovic!
Barbora Zahnova
Barbora Zahnova started playing a tennis at the tender age of 6 years. She quickly developed into a junior prodigy being selected in the Nationals team for 14, 16 and 18 and under in her native country of the Czech Republic. She was then offered a Tennis Scholarship to attend Brigham University, USA. During this time she graduated with a BS of Political Science. After graduating Barbora played the W.T.A. circuit and achieved a career high world ranking of 797. Barbora coaching career started five years ago in Perth after her husband job was relocated. She commenced working with Futures since the start of 2017. Barbora speaks four languages, including english fluently, and worked for many years in one of the largest Fitness Centres [World Class Fitness Centres] in Europe. She has coached Hot Shots, Cardio and privately with advanced to beginner pupils. We believe Barbora is a great addition to our coaching team and will be an excellent role model, especially, for our female players.
Mitch Duckett
Mitch is another former student of Futures Tennis. Mitch lived in the US for a number of years and returned pursuing his tennis with Futures. He was an A grade junior and now plays VTA pennant for East Malvern Tennis Club. He is committed to teaching kids the basics and has a fantastic and fun personally with all our players!
Damon Bernard
Damon is another former student of Futures Tennis. He was an A grade junior and now plays V.T.A. pennant for East Malvern Tennis Club. He is committed to teaching kids the basics and has a fantastic and fun personally with all our players!
Ian Fuelscher
Ian’s full time job is lecturing on the subject of Neuropsychology in the area of movement and motor skill at Deakin University. His passion, although, is the game of tennis! His father was a well known media commentator in Germany who got him into the game at a young age. Ian is heaps of fun with juniors and adults alike and volunteers to be coordinator for the junior teams at East Malvern Tennis Club. If you attend the club you will inevitably bump into Ian working voluntarily around the place. Although German, Ian, is a fair dinkum “Aussie”!
Lucette Horskins
Lucette assists in coaching at School and running the behind the scene administration for Futures Tennis. She is a keen tennis player and has completed the Tennis Australia A.N.Z. Hot Shot course. She also has a Diploma of Hospitality Management.