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

Learn more about Paul here!

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

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

Justin O'Neal

Teaching Experience:
Taught as director of player development at Legacy youth tennis and education in Philadelphia PA for roughly 10 years working with high performance junior players age 10-18.
Worked at the New England Tennis Academy working with high level players age 13–18.
Spent 5 years at Asheville Racquet club working with juniors as well as adults ranging from a 2.5 to 4.5 rating.

Interesting Fact:
I once almost fell into an active volcano in Nicaragua.

Hometown:
Lima, OH

Tolunay Sumer - Director of Academy 1 Program

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

Kenton McKeeman - Director of Green Ball and Pre-Academy Programs, 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

Philip Faulkner - Staff Professional

Philip Faulkner has been with the Raleigh Racquet Club as a Staff Professional since 2014.

Click here to learn more about Philip!

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

Matt McEvoy - Staff Professional

Teaching/coaching experience:

Matt has coached the Saint David’s Varsity boys tennis team since 2023. He has also coached for the City of Raleigh, Orienta Beach club in Mamaroneck NY, and the Brookfield Tennis Center in Queensland Australia.

Playing experience:

Matt is a Raleigh native and played #1 singles for Athens Drive High school. He played club tennis at UNC Chapel Hill and now plays in various leagues at the 5.0 level.

Interesting fact:

Has a black belt in Taekwondo

Hometown: Raleigh, NC