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 send your C.V. to our address. Please note you need to be a Qualified Tennis Australia Coach or have the equivalent qualification. We have a pathway for all coaches from TA Trainees to Junior Developmental coaches to Head Coaches who run their own clubs with Futures administration/marketing staff resources and assistance. If you are highly motivated to want to learn how to become a coach please email us your CV at futurestennis@futurestennis.com.au
About Futures
Futures Tennis is a full-time tennis academy which has been in operation for over 40 years. Our team, includes Talent Development coaches, Head Pro's and previously world ranked professionals who are dedicated and passionate about providing all pupils with a successful coaching experience. Leadership Team: Director: Wes Horskins / Operations Manager: Jake Zerman / Office Manager: Shawn Cummings Importantly, all our staff have also been trained to "Play By The Rules" for Child Safety Standards. Our coaches have working with children checks, first aid training, insurance and regularly update their professional development and knowledge to stay coach accredited with Tennis Australia.
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]. 2022 Inducted into the TCAV "Hall of Fame". Wes was an outstanding junior player. His results included twice reaching the semi-finals of the Australian Junior Championships & winning numerous state title 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. 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 six 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 in the NCAA 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 private clubs, private schools and commercial centre [Malvern Tennis Centre] while returning to play Tennis Victoria State Grade number one pennant. During this period he also completed his Diploma of Education. In 2008 he became one of fifteen national Tennis Australia Hot Shots mentors to assist in developing Hot Shots coach education. Wes has also served a period of twelve years as a Board Member with Tennis Coaches Association of Victoria [TCAV] assisting in the development of coach related issues, education and being a coach assessor at the training school. He was also elected by his peers to represent all coaches on the National Coaching Advisory Group to Tennis Australia advocating for coaching related issues as the chairperson from 2009-2014. Wes has made a living from either playing, or coaching, tennis for his entire life. This knowledge & over 40 years of experience Wes has now passed onto his coaching academy and 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, 19, and 22. He has coached top 200 WTA players through to raw Hot Shots red ball beginners and loves coaching all levels. In 2022 Wes was inducted into the TCAV "Hall of Fame". In 2023 Wes was elected President of the Tennis Coaches, Australia [TCA}.
Jake Zerman
Jake is a qualified TA HEAD Coach at EMTC. He is our coach prodigy, yet, he is much more than just a tennis coach. He is also our Operations Manager and works tirelessly on all things administrative / marketing and manages the day to day business of Futures Tennis. 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 around the world. Jake played for Wesley College's firsts as number 1 in his team. Jake also operates all our marketing, social media and acts as our IT expert. Jake is phenomenal at most things, thats why he was awarded the "TCAV Rising Star - Coach of the Year 2022".
Damon Bernard
Damon is a TA coach member and full time HEAD Coach at Ardire Park TC. He has been coaching full time for 7 years and is great with all standards and ages. He is another former student of Futures Tennis. He was an A grade junior before playing grade 3 V.T.A. adult pennant. He is committed to teaching all pupils the basics from our red ballers through to more advanced competition pupils. He also runs many of our Cardio classes. He has a likeable, laid back personally, is friends with everyone and is great with all players and ages. We have many recommendations from parents for Damon based on his pleasant personality and expertise at getting the best out of pupils.
Grant McMurtrie
Grant is a LTA Level 2 Qualified Tennis Coach, he grew up in Aberdeenshire in Scotland. Grant fell in love with tennis at the age of 6 years old and has been playing ever since, he has played tournaments all over the UK and played for the north east of Scotland. Grant has also trained in Barcelona at the same academy as Andy Murray and did a year abroad coaching in Greece. Grant started his coaching journey at just 14 and has continued to grow and develop his skills ever since, he chose to pursue a degree in sports coaching and development to better his coaching and can provide in depth feedback with the application of skills he learn whilst studying
Himakesh Sankineni
Himakesh's is a Tennis India Club Coach professional and HEAD Coach at EMTC. During the 2021 Australian Open he acted as a hitting partner for players such as number 4 in the world, Stefanos Tsitsipas, among many others. He has been playing tennis since he was 8 years. He is an outstanding player and achieved a career high singles ranking of 19 in juniors and 38 in Mens Open Singles in India with its 1.4 billion population. He currently plays grade 1 VTA pennant. After playing the ATP circuit for two years he decided to move to Australia to pursue a tennis coaching career. Himakesh is a master technician with his wide range of tennis knowledge.
Calum Roberts
Calum started his coaching journey in Scotland at the age of 8 years. He become a high level tennis player winning many county titles and being ranked in Scotland. He then went on to work for Tennis Scotland administering their countries Tennis in School program promoting tennis through coach programs at all Scottish schools. Looking for a challenge he started with Futures Tennis this year and has proven to be a huge success. Calum has a friendly, high energy personality. He is extremely knowledgeable and easy to distinguish based on his strong Scottish accent!. He is capable of coaching all ages and standards from HS beginners through to high performance players.
Declan Sullivan
Declan started his tennis coaching two years ago, is a TA coach member and coaches full time for Futures. As many of our coaches his playing pathway started in our Friday Night comp. He then went onto be a A grade junior playing for East Malvern TC, then played in the St Kevin's First Open School Tennis team and is currently playing grade 4 TV pennant. He is experienced dealing with kids of all ages. As a person he is smart, dedicated, conscientious and has a caring nature with all his pupils. He was the Dux of his class at the TA Junior Developmental coaching course. Needless to say Declan is one of our rising stars and in 2022 was recognized by Futures by making him a HEAD Coaches responsible for supervising assistant coaches.
David Philpott
David is a TA Club Coach Professional. He was our Head Coach Manager for 24 years and is the longest serving coach for Futures. He has coached all ages and standards. A few years ago, unfortunately, David started a new profession with the Metropolitan Fire Brigade and now coaches casually. David is an exceptional technical and tactical coach and has a great rapport with all his pupils. He also played grade 1 TV pennant with Rob and together formed a "dynamic duo" as FTA Head Coaches.
Aaron Moonsammy
Aaron startiing working for Futures this year after coaching at Wesley College. He is an old boy there having played in their first team in the number two position. He plays grade three VTA pennant. He coaches at St Joseph most mornings and after school at East malvern TC. He is our red ball specialist.
Rob Peterson
Rob has been coaching for over 40 years and has coached all levels of players from State ranked juniors to raw red ball beginners. He is a life member of the TCAV board which he was the Treasurer for some fifteen years. He was awarded the TCAV Club Coach of the Year award in 2000. He has run his own tennis clubs but now works for Futures Tennis exclusively. He is still one of our most sought after coaches and has a remarkable rapport with all his clients.
Ian Fuelscher
Ian’s is a qualified Tennis Germany High Performance coach. His full time job is lecturing on the subject of Neuropsychology in the area of movement and motor skill at Deakin University. His passion, though, is tennis coaching. His father was a well known media commentator in Germany who got him into the game at a young age. Ian is an exceptional tennis coach and works particularly with our High Performance players. Ian is also heaps of fun with juniors and adults alike and volunteers to be coordinator for the junior teams at East Malvern Tennis Club.
Rob Mescher
Rob is a TA Club Coach Professional, but just as importantly, is a much loved and respected person. He was a former Head Coach for Futures for 21 years and has been one of our best coaches among the hundreds that have worked for us. Some years ago he changed professions starting with the Metropolitan Fire Brigade but still coaches casually. He has coached all levels and ages. He is a grade 1 TV pennant player and former Club Champion at East Malvern Tennis Club. Together with David Philpott they form a "dynamic duo".
Harry Cutts
Harry joined our team in term 4 of this year and has coached for 3 years. He attended Box Hill Tennis School and played grade 3 VTA pennant. He is another great coach who can coach all levels but because of his outgoing personality we choose him to coach predominantly our red ball players. He coached at Vida before joining FTA in 2022.
Neel Mohan
Neel is one of many Wesley old boy's who coaches for Futures. He started playing tennis at 8 years old. He played in the school first tennis team and was their number one player. Neel currently plays grade 2 VTA pennant for Kooyong. Neel coaches many of our squad players and competition players. He has coached for a period of two years. He is a very good technical coach but also has a wonderful rapport with all his players. Neel is one, of our many, young guns coaches. He is currently studying a Bachelor of Commerce/Bachelor of Law at Deakin University.
Lachlan Duckett
Lachie has been coached by the Futures team for twelve years. He comes from a tennis playing family. His brother, Mitch, coached for us for many years, his sister works in the EMTC admin team, while his mum plays comp for EMTC. Lachie has coached for Futures for two years and is an exceptionally good technical coach and great with all levels of players. Lachie plays in the same VTA pennant team as Declan. He is currently studying Engineering.
Will Chambers
Will started his tennis coaching two years ago, doing our holiday camps and since the start of this year began private coaching and coaching our junior groups at Sacre Coeur. Will is conscientious and sights his rapport as his main strength when dealing with kids coaching. He lives locally in East Malvern and is currently studying.
Dylan De Silva
Dylan loves of the game and his teaching exudes his passion for coaching kids. He is extremely good with the younger kids in Launch Pad and Red ball where he specializes. He has been coaching for two years with a few different academies and joined Futures this year.
Riley Elley
Riley also started by coaching at our holiday camps and since the start of this year has began coaching our junior groups at Sacre Coeur Girls School. Riley is currently participating in our professional development internal courses and also lives locally in East Malvern area. We believe Riley at the tender age of 17 will one day make a fine coach. He played A grade junior comp and in his school first tennis team. he also helps run our Friday night junior comp.
Lucette Horskins
Lucette is a qualified TA Junior Development coach. She is also the Head Coach at Solway Primary School and St Joseph Primary School. Her other role is being the the Accounts & Payroll Manager for Futures Tennis. She is a keen tennis player listing her greatest on court achievement as winning the Kooyong Singles Title in her grade in 2019. Lucette has a Diploma of Hospitality & Management, but, her greatest skill is being a soprano singer! You will usually hear Lucy before you see her enthusiastically talking to parents and assisting the Hot Shots players coaching & competition. Lastly she is also Wes' wife with three young tennis playing kids.