ORLANDO, February 4, 2020 (USTA Press Release)

The United States Tennis Association (USTA) announced the appointment of Simon Gale as the new Director of Tennis for the USTA National Campus in Orlando, Fla., effective February 24, 2020. Gale will replace Kathy Woods who announced her retirement last year.

In his role as Director of Tennis, Gale will direct all instructional and tennis programming at the National Campus. He will oversee a teaching staff of approximately 40 USPTA certified professionals ensuring the teaching experience at the Campus is at the highest standard of excellence. Additionally, he will develop programs to engage pros both locally and nationally using the Campus as a hub of collaboration and innovation. Gale will also provide training and development opportunities for young teaching professionals at the National Campus.

“We are excited to welcome Simon to our team,” said Tim Cass, General Manager, USTA National Campus. “Simon’s proven track record and passion for growing the sport of tennis makes him the ideal candidate to continue developing and leading tennis programming at the National Campus.”

Prior to joining the USTA, Gale served as the Managing Partner and Director of Tennis at the Taconic Sport & Racquet Club in Hopewell Junction, N.Y. Prior to that, Gale worked at Yonkers Tennis Center in Yonkers, N.Y., for twelve years where he had multiple leadership roles including Director of Tennis and General Manager. He was awarded with Tennis Industry Magazine’s inaugural “Youth Tennis Provider of the Year” in 2015, was USPTA Eastern Facility Manager of the Year in 2010, and was selected as a USTA Tennis Market Initiative (TMI) provider.

“I’m thrilled to be part of the team helping to shape the future of tennis and it’s incredibly motivating to work at this one-of-a-kind facility,” said Gale. “In my new role, I hope to make an impact on the growth of the sport by creating a culture where providing the best experiences and cultivating a true connection to the sport is part of our DNA. We will do this by delivering the highest quality of tennis instruction and innovative programming. I’ve been collaborating with the USTA for more than 10 years in the coach education and youth tennis space, and it’s truly an honor to be able to continue the path we started a decade ago working with the industry-leading team at the USTA National Campus.” 

Since its opening in 2017, the USTA National Campus has served as a model tennis facility with the goal of delivering the world’s finest tennis experience for all who visit, use, and work at the facility. It serves as the epicenter of innovation for the sport of tennis, as well as for training and developing the current and next generation of tennis players, officials, and industry professionals