Recruitment
Come join a triple Newcombe Medalist at the Australian Tennis Awards 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 33 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 Winner TCAV Club Coach of the Year; 2011 Winner 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" Awards; 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 [1982] 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. In 2014 Wes also became one of only fifteen qualified Tennis Australia Master Club Professionals in the country. He has also served a total of ten 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 elected by his coaching peers to be their 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 V.T.A. Pennant Men’s Open Doubles winning the flag in 09, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 17 and 19.
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.
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.
Jake Zerman
Jake is our junior coach prodigy! He has played all his life from 3 years old and comes from a family of well known tennis players. His Aunty, Kerryn Pratt and Grand Mother, Maureen Pratt, both played in Grand Slam tournaments. Jake played for Wesley College's firsts as number 1 in his team and is currently studying a Bachelor of Psychology at Swinburne [Honours]. He is great with kids, basically runs our Friday Night Leagues and is a huge "hit" with the kids and parents alike with his infectious attitude and tennis knowledge.
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”!
Himakesh Sankineni
Himakesh country of birth is India. He has been playing tennis since he was 8 years old and, being a fast learner, started playing competition at just 9 years of age. He is an outstanding player and achieved a career high singles ranking of 19 in juniors and 48 in Mens Open Singles in India with its 1.4 billion population! After playing ATP circuit tournaments he decided to move to Australia to eventually pursue a tennis coaching career. Himakesh is great with kids and adults alike and is a master technician with his wide range of tennis knowledge.
Lucas Lucato
Lucas has been playing tennis when he commenced coaching at 7 years of age. He is from Brazil but speaks excellent English and has lived in Australia for one year. He decided to come to Australia to further his studies and has taken up a full time job doing his number one passion - tennis. Lucas has an extremely infectious attitude and loves teaching the game that he has devoted most of his life to. "LuLu" started coaching in Brazil at his local club at the tender age of sixteen. He has a wonderful rapport with all pupils but particularly with our younger Launch Pad and Red Ball players.
Lucette Horskins
Lucette assists in school coaching. Her main role though is assisting running the behind the scene administration for Futures Tennis. She is a keen tennis player and is a qualified Tennis Australia Junior Developmental coach. She also has a Diploma of Hospitality Management. You will often see her assisting the players for Friday Hot Shots competition as well.