New head coach at Elgin Lawn Tennis Club has mentored Wimbledon player and twice been awarded Scotland’s top coaching award
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A new head coach has been appointed at Elgin Lawn Tennis Club.
Derek Brown, an LTA (Lawn Tennis Association) accredited level 5 performance coach, has been appointed as successor to previous head coach John Walker.
Brown moved to Moray in 2022, having previously been head coach at Strathgryffe Tennis and Squash Club in Renfrewshire.
He has twice been Tennis Scotland Coach of the Year (2010 and 2019) and holds the LTA L5 Master Performance Coach qualification.
Brown coached the Highland district team who just came fourth in the Scottish Inter-district tournament this week. Three girls from Elgin were included in the team.
Elgin Tennis Club official Teresa Tait said Brown will take over from Walker, who has coached at the club since 2018 and will continue to do sessions in Moray.
“John has coached adults and children in Elgin for last six years, increasing the number of people of all ages participating in tennis,” she said.
“His coaching has led to the success of many teams, junior and adult. Every year he has coached players selected for the Highland district teams.
“We are very glad that although he is stepping down as head coach he will still be involved with coaching tennis in Elgin but will no longer be on court six days a week.”
Teresa said she was delighted that a coach with Brown’s credentials has stepped in to the position.
“Last year one of his former pupils reached the second round of the men’s doubles at Wimbledon, whilst another won the GB U14 indoor boys title.
“He has always been involved in typical club tennis throughout his career and has kept his hand in with all levels and forms of tennis coaching. He brings expertise at the higher ends of play at the club whilst delivering up-to-date coaching for beginners and everything in between.”
Brown, who started as Elgin head coach on April 1, will continue in his role of Highland District coach in charge of squads in both Moray and Highland.
Teresa added: “Derek already coaches a number of juniors in Elgin and next term he has set up a programme of coaching for all ages, three days a week. John Walker will also continue to coach at least one day a week.
She said the programme will include beginners courses for younger age groups (5-8, 8-10 and 11-16 age groups), team squads for 9-10 years, 13-and-under and 17-and-under.
Sessions are also available to adult beginners, improvers, dynamic doubles and cardio tennis.
All courses are available to members and non-members and can be booked at the club website. All coaching this year will be held at the club’s Cooper Park courts.
