Pro Staff
The Best of the Best
Teachers, coaches and tournament champions, our Tennis Pros bring dozens of years of combined experience to the Raleigh Racquet Club. Whether you’ve just picked up a racquet or you’ve been playing for years, our pros can help you grow and improve your game. They are truly the best of the best. Meet them below.
Paul Goode - Director of Tennis
Paul Goode has been with the Raleigh Racquet Club as the Director of Tennis since 2014.
- Spent 2006-2013 coaching College Tennis in a variety of capacities
- 5 time Golden Ball winner, 2017(2), 2015, 2014, 2013
- 6 Raleigh Racquet Club students ranked top 20 nationally the past 2 years
- Currently coaches 3 players ranked within top 15 nationally this year
- 4 current juniors have won Silver or Bronze balls in the past 2 years
Jonny Rigby - Director of Online Academy
Teaching/Coaching Experience:
Director of Performance Tennis at Cameron Moore Tennis Academy 2017-2023
Assistant Coach - Southern Illinois Men's Tennis - 2016-2017
Previously worked with ATP/WTA ranked players, 2 NCAA champions
Playing Experience:
Received a full athletic scholarship at Southern Illinois University
Played #1 singles and #1 doubles during sophomore, junior, and senior years
2nd most wins - Southern Illinois University Men’s Tennis program history - with 144 total wins
Recipient of ITA Arthur Ashe Leadership Award
Ranked top 5 in Great Britain 18 & Under national rankings
Certification:
Tennis Performance Trainer Certified
Tennis Performance Specialist
Interesting Fact:
My uncle and grandfather both played professional rugby.
Hometown: Wigan, England
Brent Bennett - Director of Adult Tennis
Teaching/Coaching Experience:
Raleigh Racquet Club - Director of Adult Tennis, 2018-Present
Brier Creek Country Club - Director of Tennis 2013-2018
Chapel Hill Tennis Club - Head Tennis Professional/Junior Director, 2010-2013
Hollow Rock Racquet & Swim Club - Head Tennis Professional, 2007-2010
Cary Tennis Park - Tennis Professional, 2005-2007
Playing Experience:
All State High School Player, 3 years
All Conference High School Player, 3 years
Raleigh Pro League 2014-Present
Certification:
USPTA Level 1
Elite 5.0 Rating
Wilson Advisory Staff
Interesting Fact:
Once scored 9 points in 50 seconds in a varsity high school basketball game
Hometown: Kitty Hawk, North Carolina
Eric Bratt - Director of Academy 3 Program
Teaching/Coaching Experience:
Raleigh Racquet Club – Director of National Academy Team, 2019-Present
Robbie Wagner Academy - Tennis Coach, 2012-2019
Glen Head Racquet Club - Director of Junior Development, 2010-2012
Playing Experience:
2 Silver Balls and 2 Bronze Balls in Men’s Open National Divisions
Ranked Men’s Open Player - Eastern Division, 2013 – 2015
Oneonta State University Male Athlete of the Year, 2006
Interesting Fact:
I have a twin brother named Mike who is a Director of Tennis in New York
Hometown: Roslyn, NY
William O'Connell - Staff Professional
Teaching/Coaching Experience:
Raleigh Racquet Club, Staff Professional, 2020 – Present
Captain of the Pacific Oceania Billie Jean King Cup team (Asia/Oceania Group II) that earned promotion (to Group I) in 2023 and finished 4th in 2022
Fiji national team coach (2019 – Present)
Duke University Volunteer Coach, Duke Women’s Tennis, Jan 2020 – May 2022
ITF Grand Slam Development Fund Junior Tour India Tour Coach, Nov – Dec 2019
Inspiration Tennis Academy Assistant Tennis Administrator, Sep 2018 – May 2019
New Mexico Military Institute Head Coach, NMMI Men’s Tennis, Fall 2014 – Spring 2016
Presbyterian College Assistant Coach, PC Men’s Tennis, Spring 2014
Playing Experience:
Davis Cup (Asia/Oceania Group III) player for Pacific Oceania 2013, 2016
Represented and medaled for Fiji & Pacific Oceania in international competitions 2011 – Present
University of Nottingham (BUCS) (Fall 2016 – Spring 2018)
Presbyterian College (NCAA D1) (Spring 2012 – Spring 2013)
New Mexico Military Institute (NJCAA DI) (Fall 2009 – Spring 2011)
Certification:
ITF Coach of High Performance Players
Interesting Fact:
Capital Club 16 is the best restaurant in Raleigh
Hometown: Nadi, Fiji
Carlos Garcia - Staff Professional
Teaching and Coaching Experience
6 years - Staff Professional - Cedar Bluff Racquet Club Knoxville, TN
5 years - Assistant Men’s Tennis Coach - University of Tennessee, Knoxville
1 year - Assistants Men’s Tennis Coach - University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill
1 year - travel coach for ATP top 50/Davis Cup player Chris Woodruff
2 years - Women’s Head Tennis Coach - University of Tennessee at Chattanooga
17 years - Head Men’s Tennis Coach - University of Tennessee at Chattanooga
Coaching Achievements
1999 NCAA Region 3 Assistant Coach of the Year
2000 NCAA Region 2 Assistant Coach of the Year
2019 Raleigh Tennis Association Pro of the Year
Playing Experience
Played collegiately at the University of Tennessee, SEC Champions 1986
20 year competitor on the USTA Senior Circuit and USTA Southern Circuit
USTA Men’s 35’s National Grass Court Doubles Champion & 2 time USTA Men’s 35’s National Indoor Doubles Champion
Member of the 2023 North Carolina Southern Cup Team
Member of the United States International Club Team
2022 USTA North Carolina Male Player of the Year
Certification
United States Professional Tennis Registry (USPTR)
Interesting Fact
When I was 11, we were fortunate to be named The USLTA National Tennis Family of the Year in 1975.
Hometown: Knoxville, TN
Andrea Terrill - Director of Academy 2 Program
Teaching/Coaching Experience:
Raleigh Racquet Club Staff Professional - 2020-present
Director of Academy 2 Program - 2021-present
Tennis Professional - Palisades Tennis Center
Director of Junior Development - ACE Academy
Director of Pre-Academy Group - ACE Academy
Coach/Mentor - High Performance Team - ACE Academy
Playing Experience:
4 Year Letterman for Singles and Doubles - East Carolina University (D1)
2x High School State Champion 1997 & 1998
Certification:
USPTA P-1
Interesting Fact:
Worked under Steve Bellamy, creator of the Tennis Channel, at the Palisades Tennis Center
Hometown: Roswell, GA
Tolunay Sumer - Staff Professional
Coaching/Teaching Experience:
New Canaan Field Club - Tennis, Paddle, Pickle, Padel Pro 2022 - 2023
Roton Point, RTA - Tennis Pro 2021- 2022
Trimp Tennis Academy - Tennis Coach 2020 - 2021
Power Tennis Academy - Head Tennis coach of junior tennis 2018 - 2020
Playing Experience:
Played collegiately at Fairfield University (D1)& Wingate University (D2)
Former top 600 in ITF Juniors
Runner up U16 & U18 Turkish National Championship.
Hometown: Istanbul, Turkey
Daniel Carter - Director of Tournament Group Program
Coaching/Teaching Experience:
Roanoke Rapids High Assistant Coach 2012-2014
Roanoke Rapids High Head Coach 2014-2017
Roanoke Rapids Parks & Rec Director of Tennis Operations 2013-2017
Raleigh Racquet Club Tennis Professional 2018-present
Raleigh Racquet Club Director of Tournament Programming 2021-present
Enloe Magnet High Head Coach 2023-present
Playing experience:
William Peace University - Most doubles wins in a season
William Peace University Coaches Award
Certifications:
Modern Tennis Strokes
Kovacs Institution The Female Forehand
Kovacs Institution Tennis Serve Specialist
Kovacs Institution Fundamental Footwork
Bailey Tennis Footwork
Hometown: Roanoke Rapids, NC
Kenton McKeeman - Director of Green Ball Program, Academy Fitness Trainer
Teaching/Coaching Experience:
Green Dot Program Director - 2023-present
Director of Academy Strength and Conditioning - 2023-present
Playing Experience:
17 years of playing experience
Played varsity high school tennis at Wakefield High School
Currently working on competing in the 30+ division.
Certification:
NSCA Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS 2023)
Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor Associate (pending)
Graduated from UNC Greensboro with a Masters of Science in Counseling, specializing in sport/performance counseling, anxiety, depression, stress and behavior management
I am a Nationally Certified Counselor (NCC) and have worked with children, adolescents and young adults with a wide variety of mental and environmental challenges for the past 7 years
Interesting Fact:
Spending most of my professional career in the mountains of Western NC, I am an avid hiker and birdwatcher, currently trying to complete my life list for North American birds.
Hometown: Raleigh, NC
Matt Tomayko - Director of Red/Orange Ball Programs
Teaching/Coaching Experience:
Raleigh Racquet Club Director of Red/Orange Ball programs since July 2017
Wembley Club (Cleveland, OH) 2015-2017
Cary Tennis Park (Cary, NC) 2013-2015
Playing Experience:
John Carroll University 2007 Honorable Mention, All Ohio Athletic Conference
Certification:
PTR – 10 & under, USTA Net Generation
Interesting Fact:
Loves playing music, singing, recording, and producing.
Hometown: Solon, Ohio
Philip Faulkner - Staff Professional
Philip Faulkner has been with the Raleigh Racquet Club as a Staff Professional since 2014.
Tony O'Connell - Staff Professional
Teaching/Coaching Experience:
Midtown Athletic Club
Margaret Court Tennis Academy
Fiji Tennis Association
Playing Experience:
New Mexico Military Institute
Carthage College
Certification:
ITF Level 1
Hometown: Nadi, Fiji Islands
Drew Sandri - Staff Professional
Teaching/coaching experience:
Coaching at RRC since December 2021 (Academy groups and adults)
Springdale Area Recreational Club tennis coaching (adults and juniors)
Sunset Ridge Racquet and Swim Club in Holly Springs in 2021 (adults)
Pickleball coaching in the Triangle area since 2022 (all ages and tournament players)
Playing experience:
Nationally ranked junior tennis player at RRC
Current pickleball pro tournament player
Former Division I baseball player at West Virginia University
Interesting fact:
Drew's middle brother Winston played on the Notre Dame national championship football team in 1988 and his oldest brother Jon played Division I baseball at the University of Pittsburgh
Hometown: Shamokin, Pennsylvania
