Recruitment
Come join a triple Newcombe Medalist at the Australian Tennis Awards winning team. Futures Tennis Academy is always searching for the best quality professional coaches. If you are interested in coaching on our team send your C.V. to our address. Please note you need to be a Qualified Tennis Australia Coach or have the equivalent qualification. We have a pathway for all coaches from TA Trainees to Junior Developmental coaches to Head Coaches who run their own clubs with Futures administration/marketing staff resources and assistance. If you are highly motivated to want to learn how to become a coach please email us your CV at futurestennis@futurestennis.com.au
About Futures
Futures Tennis is a full-time tennis academy which has been in operation for over 40 years. Our team, includes Talent Development coaches, Head Pro's and previously world ranked professionals who are dedicated and passionate about providing all pupils with a successful coaching experience. Leadership Team: Director: Wes Horskins / Operations Manager: Jake Zerman / Office Manager: Shawn Cummings Importantly, all our staff have also been trained to "Play By The Rules" for Child Safety Standards. Our coaches have working with children checks, first aid training, insurance and regularly update their professional development and knowledge to stay coach accredited with Tennis Australia.
Wes Horskins
AWARDS: 2010 Winner TCAV Club Coach of the Year; 2011 Winner Victorian Tennis Awards Coaching Excellence Hot Shots; 2011 Winner Australian Tennis Awards: Hot Shots Coach of the Year; 2012 Winner Australian Tennis Awards: Club Coach of the Year; 2013 Finalist Victorian "All Sports" Awards; 2016 Winner Australian Tennis Awards: Most Outstanding Club/Centre [East Malvern TC]. 2022 Inducted into the TCAV "Hall of Fame". Wes was an outstanding junior player. His results included twice reaching the semi-finals of the Australian Junior Championships & winning numerous state title junior tournaments in Melbourne. Overseas he won prestigious World Level 2 tier National Titles such as the Czechoslovakian Junior Championships [Slovakia] & the Swiss National Junior Title [Landquart]. Wes also represented Australia in the World Junior Esso Challenge & Victoria in both the Wayne Reid & Linton Cup teams. He was ranked the number one junior in Victoria & four in Australia for juniors his age group. At just seventeen years of age Wes played State Grade number one [the highest open grade in Victoria] and won six of his seven singles matches. Wes went on to play the Men’s ATP circuit for six years, playing in many of the worlds largest tournaments including Grand Slam events such as the main draw of the Australian Open singles and doubles [1982] and the qualifying event of the French & Wimbledon Championships. His highest Australian Singles Ranking was #35, World Singles Ranking of #398 & World Doubles Ranking of #252. Wes also represented Oklahoma State University in the NCAA with a full scholarship before starting his career in tennis coaching at the prestigious Haza Del Algarobbo Tennis Centre in Fuengirola, Spain coaching many of the top Andalucian juniors. Wes eventually settled back into Melbourne coaching & managing at numerous private clubs, private schools and commercial centre [Malvern Tennis Centre] while returning to play Tennis Victoria State Grade number one pennant. During this period he also completed his Diploma of Education. In 2008 he became one of fifteen national Tennis Australia Hot Shots mentors to assist in developing Hot Shots coach education. Wes has also served a period of twelve years as a Board Member with Tennis Coaches Australia [TCA] assisting in the development of coach related issues, education and being a coach assessor at the training school. He was also elected by his peers to represent all coaches on the National Coaching Advisory Group to Tennis Australia advocating for coaching related issues as the chairperson from 2009-2014. Wes has made a living from either playing, or coaching, tennis for his entire life. This knowledge & over 40 years of experience Wes has passed onto his coaching academy and his numerous coaches. After retiring from the circuit he continued to play competitively representing Australia twice in the over 35 World Team Championships. In 2000 he reached the quarter finals of the over 35 World Singles and Doubles Championships in Amsterdam, Holland. The same year he also won the Australian 35 and over Clay Court Championships. In 2000 Wes was ranked in the top ten players in the world 35’s ITF rankings. He still plays VTA Pennant Men’s Open Doubles winning the flag in 09, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 17, 19, and 22. He has coached top 200 WTA players through to raw Hot Shots red ball beginners and loves coaching all levels. In 2021 Wes was inducted into the TCA "Hall of Fame" and the following year he was elected President of Tennis Coaches, Australia [TCA]. TCA has over 500 members Australia wide.
Jake Zerman
Jake is a qualified TA HEAD Coach at EMTC. He is our coach prodigy, yet, he is much more than just a tennis coach. He is also our Operations Manager and works tirelessly on all things administrative / marketing and manages the day to day business of Futures Tennis. He has played all his life from 3 years old and comes from a family of well known tennis players. His Aunty, Kerryn Pratt and Grand Mother, Maureen Pratt, both played in Grand Slam tournaments around the world. Jake played for Wesley College's firsts as number 1 in his team. Jake also operates all our marketing, social media and acts as our IT expert. Jake is phenomenal at most things, thats why he was awarded the "TCAV Rising Star - Coach of the Year 2022".
Shawn Cummings
Shawn Cummings is a PTR and USPTA-qualified U10 and High-Performance Coach with 17 + years of coaching experience. He started his coaching career working at the non-profit tennis academy where he learned to play tennis himself. He was program/high-performance director for six years. After graduating Uni with a degree in IT on a full tennis scholarship Shawn moved back to NYC and became a tennis director at John McEnroe Academy in Long Island and then Gotham Tennis Academy in the Bronx. Shawn moved on from academy coaching to university coaching at Molloy College for 2 years then Pratt Institute for 2 years where he was named conference coach of the year 2 years in a row after leading his men's and women’s teams to consecutive conference championships. Moving to Sydney, Australia in 2015 Shawn became one of the head coaches at Voyager’s full time tennis academy working with players looking to either play collegiate tennis in the U.S. or turn pro. Shawn's background experience coaching all levels allows him to build trust with all his players, which allows him to push them to levels they didn’t previously believe they could achieve. Along with his grassroots background, Shawn has joined Futures to help grow our higher-level programs from the talent already in-house.
Jono Leftley
Jonathan [Jono] is our Coach Manager at Futures Tennis supervising and professionally developing all staff's on court performance. He started coaching at the age of 15 as an assistant in Northland TC, New Zealand and relocated to our academy at the start of the year. Jono has now coached for thirteen years and completed his Bachelors degree in Sport and Recreation majoring in coaching. Subsequently, Jono's strength is his ability use this specialized training to analyse and identify the strengths and weaknesses of all his players. Jono has worked with top NZ players, advising them on strategy and patterns of play to further their success. His philosophy is centered around athlete enjoyment and technical and tactical development through game based approach coaching methodology..
Amy Ball
Amy is a qualified LTA Level 3 coach and has been coaching in the UK and Australia for a total of 6 years. Amy holds a Bachelors degree in Physical Education with Outdoor Education which she gained at Leeds Beckett University. In addition, she represented the women's second team for her university across the three years she was studying. Amy started playing tennis when she was 7 years old and by 10 she was competing regionally for her county in regular competition. At 18 she started her coaching pathway and gained her LTA coaching qualifications working at both the university and Roundhay Tennis Club. Amy's strengths include working with Futures younger stars as her outgoing personality and fun energy makes sessions enjoyable for players. In addition, being a star with the kids she takes great pride in improving adults alike and you will see her friendly face around East Malvern Tennis Club most mornings.
Damon Bernard
Damon is a TA qualified coach and the full time HEAD Coach at Ardrie Park TC. He has been coaching full time for 8 years and is excellent with all standards and ages. He is another former student of Futures Tennis playing A grade junior before playing grade 3 V.T.A. pennant. He is committed to teaching all pupils the basics from our red ballers through to more advanced competition pupils. He also runs many of our Cardio classes. He has a likeable, laid back personally, is friends with everyone. We have many recommendations from parents for Damon based on his pleasant personality and expertise at getting the best out of pupils.
Himakesh Sankineni
Himakesh is a Tennis India Club Coach professional and HEAD Coach at EMTC. During the 2021 Australian Open he acted as a hitting partner for players such as number 4 in the world, Stefanos Tsitsipas, among many others. He has been playing tennis since he was 8 years. He is an outstanding player and achieved a career high singles ranking of 19 in juniors and 38 in Men's Open Singles in India with its 1.4 billion population. He currently plays grade 1 VTA pennant. After playing the ATP circuit for two years he decided to move to Australia to pursue a tennis coaching career. Himakesh is a masterful technician with his wide range of tennis acumen.
Linus Van Riesen
Linus is original from Germany, attended the Rafael Nadal Tennis school in Spain as a teenager, played some ATP tournaments and then commenced coaching in Singapore before finally moving to Melbourne to start coaching at Futures. He has coached for 6 years full time and is also our professional re-stringer. Linus works well with all ages but especially with private and cardio lessons. He is currently studying to becoming a TA qualified coach but has many international coaching licenses to his name already.
Neyara [Liyana] Weerawansa
Neyara is from Sri Lanka, is 23 years old and is in Melbourne to further her studies doing a Bachelor of Psychology. Neyara was a sensational junior prodigy being the number one junior for her country playing Apple Bowl and many international junior tournaments. She then went on to represent Sri Lanka as the number one player in their Federation Cup team and was the number one ranked female in Sri Lanka. Since moving to Melbourne she has coached for two years and is playing State Grade pennant [the highest league in Melbourne]. Neyara is great with female players and coaches all levels but specializes with our higher performing female juniors.
Aaron Moonsammy
Aaron started work for Futures in 2022 after coaching at Wesley College. His playing experience includes representing his school at number two in the first team and grade three VTA pennant. Due to this experience, he has a great understanding of the game which shines through in his fun lessons. He coaches at St Joseph most mornings and after school at East Malvern TC. He has a bubbly personality both on and off the court making him great with kids and adults alike. He is a friendly regular around the club so look out for him!
Lachlan Duckett
Lachie has been coached by the Futures team for twelve years. He comes from a tennis playing family. His brother, Mitch, coached for us for many years, his sister works in the EMTC admin team, while his mum plays comp for EMTC. Lachie has coached for Futures for four years and is an exceptionally good technical coach and great with all levels of players. Lachie plays in the same VTA grade 5 pennant team for EMTC. He is currently studying Engineering.
Alex Pook
Alex has been coaching with FTA for three years after playing in Caulfield Grammars First tennis team. He coaches red and orange ball players and helps organise our Friday night Hot Shots competition. Alex is one of our keenest coaches always the first to participate in professional development opportunities. He takes care in teaching his younger pupils perceptual fundamental motor skills as a prerequisite before teaching technical skills within a lively and fun environment.
Riley Ellett
Riley attends year 12 Box Hill Tennis School playing full time tennis and is an aspiring coach. He has played A grade juniors and plays VTA pennant. He has coached with Futures for two years whilst also assisting Alex with our Hot Shots internal competition. Next year he intends to coach for FTA weekdays. He has loads of enthusiasm, engages well with young kids and is coaching our red and orange ball players teaching the fundamentals.
Lachlan Bayley
Lachlan commenced coaching casually for FTA 12 months ago whilst studying Sports Science. He is a former FTA pupil and achieved an A grade standard in juniors whilst playing for Ardrie Park TC. He's Dad is also on the committee of the same club. Lachlan brings a sports science background to his coaching whilst also being a likeable and knowledgeable aspiring coach.
Ian Fuelscher
Ian’s is a qualified Tennis Germany High Performance coach. His full time job is lecturing on the subject of Neuropsychology in the area of movement and motor skill at Deakin University. His passion, though, is tennis coaching. His father was a well known media commentator in Germany who got him into the game at a young age. Ian is an exceptional tennis coach and works particularly with our High Performance players. Ian is also heaps of fun with juniors and adults alike and volunteers to be coordinator for the junior teams at East Malvern Tennis Club.
Lucette Horskins
Lucette is a qualified TA Junior Development coach. She is also the Head Coach at Solway Primary School and St Joseph Primary School. Her other role is being the the Accounts & Payroll Manager for Futures Tennis. She is a keen tennis player listing her greatest on court achievement as winning the Kooyong Singles Title in her grade in 2019. Lucette has a Diploma of Hospitality & Management, but, her greatest skill is being a soprano singer! You will usually hear Lucy before you see her enthusiastically talking to parents and assisting the Hot Shots players coaching & competition. Lastly she is also Wes' wife with three young tennis playing kids.