Kevin Schmitt, the Head Tennis and Platform Tennis Professional at the Upper Ridgewood Club, is a former owner and Director of Tennis at the Flanders Valley Tennis and Swim Club, now the Center Court Athletic Club, Flanders, NJ. Throughout his tennis teaching career, Kevin has developed over 100 Junior tennis players to play NCAA collegiate tennis and coached many more to play on high school tennis teams - based on USPTA coaching guidelines that teach children the fundamentals of tennis using smaller balls, racquets and courts, dependent on age, size and capability. He has also coached aspiring ATP players on the Satellite Tour. Kevin was a state collegiate doubles tennis champion at Montclair State and has won state and county clay and hardcourt doubles tennis championships in different age groups. Kevin is a former National 50 and over Platform Tennis Men's Doubles semi-finalist.
Justin Hogh graduated from the University of Connecticut, and holds a B.A. in Sociology focusing on Childhood Psychology and Behavior. In addition, Justin also received his Masters in Business and Entertainment Professions from New York University. Justin brings extensive playing experience as an All American junior, NCAA Division 1 college tennis player and ITF Junior competitor. Justin participated in the 1984 Junior Orange Bowl Championships in Miami, Florida. He is a certified USPTA Pro 1 - Elite coach with more than 20 years of tennis teaching experience. Justin was the Founder and Director of Knickerbocker Sports Tennis Academy, located in New York, NY and also served as the Head Teaching Professional at the Southampton Bath and Tennis Club, in Southampton, New York. In Addition, Justin also served as the Director of Junior Tennis at the Scripps Ranch Swim and Racquet club in San Diego, California.
Bill Meakem has been an Assistant Pro at the Upper Ridgewood Tennis Club for 20 years. Bill grew up in Ridgewood playing at URTC. He is a former 1st Team All-State High School doubles player for Ridgewood High School. As a former high school teacher, Bill is proficient in teaching to different learning styles and caters his teaching to fit the needs of his clientele. He’s taught all l levels of men, women and children. He is known for his energy and enthusiasm for the game and for teaching. Bill coached the Varsity Boys and Girls Tennis Teams at Governor Livingston High School in Berkeley Heights for 10 years and won Union County Coach of the Year in 2011. Bill is USPTA certified in both tennis and paddle and is also currently the Head Paddle Pro at Echo Lake Country Club.
Bill can be reached at (973) 224-0998 or by email at wmeakem@yahoo.com
Abigail Burke continues as a tennis professional at the URTC this spring after being so well received and appreciated by her tennis Juniors at the URTC tennis clinics last year. She is a longtime resident of Ridgewood and an experienced tennis professional to every Junior age group. Many of Abigail’s tennis Juniors have continued on to play at Ridgewood and local high schools and at the collegiate level. Abigail is a USPTA certified tennis pro, combining her teaching experience with the USTA guidelines and approach practiced at URTC. She played Division 1 tennis at Villanova University and is an active tournament player, nationally ranked in her age group in tennis in both singles and doubles. Abigail is also a nationally ranked platform tennis player, a PPTA (Pro Platform Tennis Assoc.) certified coach and teaches platform tennis to Juniors and adults at URTC.
Ed Gartner returns as a Tennis Professional at URTC this spring after teaching Junior tennis and platform tennis last fall and winter. Ed is currently the Platform Tennis Professional at the Hackensack Golf Club and formerly Head Tennis Pro. Previously Ed was the Director of the Junior tennis program at URTC under Jay Fraser. Ed now assists Kevin Schmitt teaching the USPTA based tennis program to Juniors at URTC. Ed also helps coach Junior and adult platform tennis at URTC. He has won the Bergen County Doubles Tennis Championship and is a nationally ranked platform tennis player.