John A. Dokken

Background

About John A. Dokken

I am still discovering and experimenting with the world's greatest game. As a lifelong tennis player and Coach, I am still excited to learn and innovate with anyone who wants to play. Coaching at the Country Club of Detroit gave me the opportunity to blend the highest level of service with the latest teaching techniques. Member satisfaction during our on court time was done by asking questions and always listening. We always believed in giving the member what they wanted! Being the Head Men's Tennis Coach at the University of Virginia required me to refine my communication skills. The verbal power of persuasion with highly competitive athletes was a wonderful gift that I will never forget. Organizing personal training programs for each athlete's unique personality blended the skills of intuition and goal setting with a gifted group of young men. As a Director of Tennis at Stonebrook and Chestnut Forks, I have cultivated a love of the sport in people from all backgrounds. I understand player frustration, reasons for attrition, and the financial obstacles that our commercial tennis clubs face. I have been able to remove those barriers to entry for the fist time "tryers" of our great sport, and turn them into "flyers"(credit Mike Barrell). Besides breaking down those barriers to entry for young players and adults, we have worked on the retention of our established players. By identifying the internal needs of the person in front of us, and telling their best story, we have continued to reignite the passion for the game in our "established" players. My business acumen blended with my coaching skills give me a different skill set. The clubs I have been a Director of Tennis at have grown revenue, achieved financial objectives, established reputations for excellence in instruction.