Charles is a regional legend for his stellar youth coaching career and his tireless advocacy for creating opportunities for black young people.
Since retiring in 2008 from his marketing management position with Kentucky State Government, he has spent countless hours on the tennis court. He goes both wide and deep. Working with the Louisville Area 10 and Under Tennis Association and the Newburg Tennis Association he has introduced 5000+ black youth to the game teaching summer clinics where he emphasizes sportsmanship as much as skills. Simultaneously, as tennis director for Rising Stars of Kentucky and the Ballard High School tennis team, he has developed 400+ competitive tennis players while advocating academics and sportsmanship. Advocacy is as vital as coaching. By leveraging his talents and professional connections, he ensures that the Newburg Tennis Association receives its fair share of public support. His advocacy directly funds this CTA, which serves a predominantly Black community and operates the largest summer tennis camp in the state. Black student participation in Kentucky state tournaments has never exceeded 1%, but he actively lobbies for programming that expands opportunities for a more diverse population of players. In recognition of these efforts, he received USTA Southern’s Diversity and Inclusion Champion Award in 2022. Charles’ impact is not merely measured by achievements and statistics but by the lives he has touched. His coaching philosophy emphasizes not only skill development but also the importance of mentorship, sportsmanship, and community engagement.
Most of us dream of retirement as more time on the tennis court playing the game we love. Yes, in retirement Charles spends much more time on the tennis court but not playing. He uses tennis: to Create Opportunities for the Next Generations. His impact is seen in many organizations and outreach.
Rising Stars of Kentucky Tennis
For over 18 years, on a volunteer basis Charles and Bruce Stone, a member of the Black Tennis Hall of Fame, have led the local National Junior Tennis and Learning Chapter, Rising Stars of Kentucky Tennis (RSKT). RSKT is an organization that provides year-round tennis opportunities for low-income and disadvantaged youth. Each year approximately 30 youth are selected to participate in the program.
Rising Stars benefit from Charles’ influence in the following areas.
• Develop Communication Skills: Yes, PR people excel at communication, and Charles, who has a college degree in Public Relations and an outstanding career in marketing and communications for Kentucky State Government shares his interests and skills. 16 Rising Stars have been junior winners of the national Arthur Ashe Essay Contest with both National USTA and Southern Sectional winners.
• Have a Career: Charles is continually preaching to the Rising Stars – have a career. Though the exact data is not available, it is estimated that 95% of the Rising Stars have either gone on to higher education or into military service.
• Learn to Lead: Charles, who is PTR Certified, teaches summer and afterschool programs for the Louisville 10 and Under Tennis Association (LOU10U) providing free tennis programming at community centers, public parks, churches and boys and girls clubs. He convinced LOU10U to hire Rising Stars as assistant coaches. They were so successful, 9 have achieved PTR 10U certification.
Newburg Tennis Association
While Charles has been involved in many capacities of Newburg Tennis Association leadership, he has the greatest impact during Newburg’s annual summer tennis camp where “no one is turned away.” A modest fee of $25 is charged, but no one is turned away. Many participants would otherwise never be introduced to tennis. Charles is the key promoter, using his contacts to ensure the clinics receive free publicity. The camp has 150+ participants each year-by far the largest attended tennis camp in Kentucky. At the onset of the clinic, Charles focuses on working with the 50+ youth in the 10U group. He is assisted by the Rising Stars PTR 10U certified coaches.
Ballard High School Tennis Coach – 2022 Kentucky High School Boys Coach of the Year
Since 2008, Charles has coached the Ballard High School boys’ tennis team. Yes, he has turned out good players, but he will be the first to tell you it is a stacked deck. The percent of African Americans participating in the Kentucky High School state tournament has never exceeded 1%. Charles uses his coaching position as a platform to lobby intensely for high school program alignments that will create more opportunities for more diverse populations of players to be able to compete at the state level. Without these considerations, the same large single sex private schools continue to dominate play.
Volunteer
• Board Member and Tennis Director, Rising Stars of Kentucky, a USTA National Junior Tennis and Learning Chapter
• Board Member, Newburg Tennis Association
• Summer Clinics Manager, Newburg Tennis Association Summer Tennis Camps
• Board Member, Louisville 10 and Under Tennis Association
• Board Member USTA Kentucky
• Committee Member, USTA Southern JTT and Diversity Committees, USTA Kentucky Diversity & Inclusion, Nominating and Marketing Committees
• Working with Mid-Tac to establish the Juneteenth Tennis Invitational in 2021 evolving into an annual event in Louisville, KY
League Player
In the realm of adult tennis (age 19-49), Charles achieved a notable rating of 4.5 for USTA League play. He also represented Lexington in ATA events, showcasing his skills and commitment to the sport.
Tournament Player
Played in local Louisville tournaments such as the Arthur Lloyd Johnson Tournament and the Bruce Stone Classic both supporting the Black community.
Tennis Professional
• PTR Certified Pro since 2001
Tennis Teacher and/or Coach
o Rising Stars Nationally Recognized NJTL
o Rising Stars provides tennis opportunities to minority, single-parented, and at-risk youth.
o Tennis Director 18 years
o 18 Rising Stars have been junior winners of the national Arthur Ashe Essay Contest
o Rising Stars have a 100% high school graduation rate
o 95% of Rising Stars go on to college or military service
o Many Rising Stars play on USTA JTT Teams, in USTA and ATA events, on their high school tennis teams
Newburg Tennis Association
o Summer Clinics Manager 18+ years
o Organizes and promotes the largest clinic in Kentucky which has 150+ youth and adult participants each year
o Manages and teaches the Junior Clinics which serves 100+ youth annually
Ballard High School
o Boys Team Coach since 2008
o Girls Team Coach 2008-2009 & since 2020
o 2022 Kentucky Boys High School Coach of the Year
Louisville Area 10 and Under Tennis Association
o In 10+ years as a coach has spent 950+ hours on the court teaching tennis primarily to youth living in Louisville’s West End. Personally reaching 5000+ youth a minimum of 4 times each
College Players including, but not limited to:
o Bryan Bello – USTAKY 2021 Pro of the Year
o Adrian Bello – played at Lindsey Wilson
o Christine Crawford – Played for Berea College
o Angelia Herrera – Playing for Midway University
o TJ Richardson – Playing for Tiffin University
o Deahna Welcher: played for Lipscomb, won Indiana High School State Doubles with sister Tiffany
o Tiffany Welcher: played for Alabama and Memphis, Teaching Pro
o Robyn White: played for University of Louisville, Teaching Pro
Director of tennis related organization (club, CTA, NJTL, etc)
o Tennis Director, Rising Stars of Kentucky, a USTA National Junior Tennis and Learning Chapter
o Board, Newburg Tennis Association
o Summer Clinics Manager, Newburg Tennis Association Summer Tennis Camps
o Board Member, Louisville 10 and Under Tennis Association
o Board Member USTA Kentucky
Other
o Kentucky Tennis Hall of Fame, Inducted 2023
o USTA Awards
o USTAKY 2022 Diversity and Inclusion Champion
o USTA Southern 2022 Diversity and Inclusion Champion