Welcome to Interview #11.
I am excited to present to you NCAA Division 1 Women’s Tennis Coach, Mark Tjia of the University of Alabama Birmingham. This is our second video interview. It is fantastic. Coach Tjia has a wealth of information to share with us.
Coach Tjia is a veteran tennis coach with over 20 years of coaching experience. He has spent the past 5 years in the college ranks. Before that Coach Tjia’s resume includes being a Head Tennis Professional at the 300 Swim and Tennis Club, coaching on the WTA tour and playing professionally on ATP Pro Circuit.
Enjoy watching this brilliant coach talk directly to prospective college athletes!
Profile:
Mark Tjia, a veteran tennis coach with over 20 years of coaching experience at multiple levels, was named UAB’s head women’s tennis coach on Jan. 17, 2014. Prior to joining the Blazers, Tjia (pronounced “chia”) spent 3.5 years as the men’s assistant tennis coach at his alma mater, TCU. He played for three top-10 Horned Frog teams between 1989 and 1992, including the 1989 squad that reached the semifinal round at the NCAA Championships and the 1992 that was ranked a program high #2. As the TCU assistant, Tjia coached multiple players to All MWC and All Big 12 honors, and was named the 2012-13 ITA Texas Region Assistant Coach of the Year. He also played an instrumental role in helping the Horned Frogs to one of the top home-court advantages in the nation as TCU placed No. 1 in the ITA Fan Attendance Race.
Tjia joined TCU after serving as the Head Tennis Professional at the 300 Swim & Tennis Club in Gainesville, Fla., since 1997. In 2010, he was a volunteer coach for the Lady Gator women’s tennis team that reached the final round at the NCAA Team Championship. Affectionately known by his players as “Chief”, Coach Tjia competed for several years on the ATP pro circuit achieving a world ranking of No. 589 in singles. After his playing days, he served as a coach to world #60 Shaun Stafford as he coached and travelled on the WTA Tour, and later wrote and published the book “Loving the Battle!” – Tips to Improve Your Tennis Performance.
Mark is married to the former Jenna Blythe and they reside in Birmingham, Alabama with their 2 dogs, Kimo and Sabe.
Next, take a look at Making Yourself Worth the Attention of a College Coach.
Keep in the Conversation,
Bryan Drotar
