Meet your Love'n Deuce coaching team!

Paul francis

The Boss. Paul's father Reg, and mother Mary, started coaching tennis 60 years ago in Rangers Road, Cremorne, at the back of the now Redlands school, before moving to Balmoral Beach in an idyllic setting with five courts.
Paul took over 30 years ago, launched Love'n Deuce with courts at Grafton Ave, Wheatleigh Street, and Talus Street to become Sydney's leading tennis complex.

Motivation to coach: Hated studying

Pet hate: Dishonesty

Outside interests: Family, wine, fishing, and sport in general

Favourite song: 'He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother' – the Hollies, with Sir Elton John on piano

Favourite food: Steak

Host the ultimate dinner party with five guests:

Sir Donald Bradman, Roger Federer, Sarah O'Hare, Kerry Packer, and Pope Bendict XV1

MARK ROGER

General Manager, holding the NSW TCA Level 2 coaching certificate.
Mark has been at Love’n Deuce for 16 years after a competitive career at local, state junior, and state senior level – a doubles specialist.
A coach for over 20 years, Mark's currently working with all age groups from beginners, to senior tournament level.

Motivation to coach: Enormous pleasure helping improve tennis players from 5-65

Pet hate: Low work ethic

Outside interests: Architecture, landscaping

Favourite song: 'I Wanna Hold Your Hand' – the Beatles

Favourite food: Thai, Mexican

Host the ultimate dinner party with five guests:

Rod Laver, President Bill Clinton, Andre Agassi, Donald Trump, and wife Alison Roger

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JEFF SNELLING

Head Coach and the patriarch of the team, was a State-ranked player as a youngster, but saw his future as a coach.
After 14 years in the USA with Fred Stolle, Jeff returned home, and has been at Love’n Deuce for the last 12 years.

Motivation to coach: As a youngster he was an assistant coach, and his payment from the boss was private lessons - Jeff caught the coaching bug.

Pet hate: Getting blamed for something he didn't do

Outside interests: Fishing – growing orchids and bromalades

Favourite song: 'Cashmere' – Led Zeppelin

Favourite food: Anything his wife cooks - absolutely anything

Host the ultimate dinner party with five guests:

Maria Sharapova (minus father), Dawn Fraser, Ric Charlesworth, Steve Waugh, and Vince Lombardi, legendary Green Bay Packers coach

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BRAD MELVILLE

Had an outstanding junior career, winning singles tournaments in Australia, New Zealand, Europe, and the USA - and capturing the coveted Pizzey Cup for NSW with Jason Stoltenberg, Todd Woodbridge, and Adam Anderson in 1985, after being runners up in 1984.
Holds a BBA (Finance) degree from the University of Texas, where he was Pan–American 1986–1989, and number one player in the tough NCAA Division 1.

Motivation to coach: At home outdoors, and the interaction with people

Pet hate: Excuses

Outside interests: Computers, Internet

Favourite song: 'American Trilogy' – Elvis Presley

Favourite food: Thai

Host the ultimate dinner party with five guests:

Roger Federer, Richard Branson and Michael Jordan

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DAVID FALCONER

Originally started coaching part time from the age of 17yrs with Love'n Deuce.  David then moved on to establish his own tennis schools, Tennis Valley, Tennis Fairways, and Tennis Cove and also did some coaching in Japan.  In between David was also the head coach and events manager at Darling Harbour Sports in the lead up to the Sydney 2000 Olympics.  David is a club professional coach with Tennis Australia and has coached State and National ranked Juniors.  David is very excited to be part of the Love'n Deuce team again  

Motivation to coach: Meeting people and forming friendships.  Seeing the enjoyment my clients get when improving on court.

Pet hate: Unreliability and missing an easy putt

Outside interests: Golf, NRL, general fitness and family

Favourite song: Mustang Sally, Commitments

Favourite food: Ice Cream

Host the ultimate dinner party with five guests:

Michael Parkinson, Bjorn Borg, Noel Kelly, Greg Norman, Dame Edna

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DOMINIC HALL

Caught the coaching bug playing college tennis for five years in the USA, moved back to Darwin for three years, and is now in Sydney with a Development Coaching certificate, and studying for the Advanced Coaching qualification.

Motivation to coach: Enjoy teaching

Pet hate: Superficiality

Outside interests: Films, beach, and sport

Favourite song: Smells like teen spirit, Nirvana

Favourite food: Italian

Host the ultimate dinner party with five guests:

Michael Jordan, Quentin Tarantino, Kofi Annan, Pat Rafter and Milla Jovovich

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Vince Valenta

I have played from the age of 7, played many junior tournaments and moved into a coaching career early on and have been coaching tennis for 25 years. My youngest student is 3yrs of age and oldest is 88 and still going strong. Also, I have completed a Sports Science at Wollongong University.

Motivation to coach: All the interesting people I meet from all walks of life.

Pet hate: Bouncers that don't appreciate my dress sense

Outside interests: Anything outdoors that involves feats of endurance, and of an extreme nature.

Favourite song: Back in Black

Favourite food: Toss up between baked beans on toast and bacon and egg roll

Host the ultimate dinner party with five guests:

The Mighty Quinn, Big wave dave, Bundy Boy, Chuckie and Shambles.  All mates at a bbq.

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Craig Smith

I have lived and played on the northern peninsula all of my life. I did my first lesson for a local coach at age 15.  I established 'Smiths Tennis Centre' at North Curl Curl in 1982, and after 20 years moved to Belrose Tennis Centre for 7 years and since then I have worked for a variety of tennis centres before working at Tennis Cove in 2009 and now Love'n Deuce in 2010.
 

Motivation to coach: "Best job in the world"

 

Pet hate: Bullying

Outside interests: Watching Rugby and Rugby League

Favourite song: Banana Boat (Dayo), Harry Belafonte

Favourite food: Steak and vegetables

Host the ultimate dinner party with five guests:

My wife Cathy, my 3 children Cassie, Matt and Brad, and my deceased dad Ray who they had not met.

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