Nick Bollettieri
Nicholas J. "Nick" Bollettieri
Nick Bollettieri is one of the most influential people in the world of tennis and a legend who has transcended the sport. In 1978, he founded the Nick Bollettieri Tennis Academy (NBTA) in Florida. The NBTA was the first full-time tennis boarding school to combine intense training on the court with a custom-designed academic curriculum. What was once a program of primarily on-court training has evolved into a multi-faceted approach which includes blending the technical and strategic on-court training with specialized performance physical training and mental conditioning. The Bollettieri approach not only builds athletes on the court, but more importantly, prepares them for a successful life off the court as well.
It was this proven method that Nick used to coach ten #1 players in the world – Agassi, Becker, Courier, Hingis, Jankovic, Rios, Seles, Sharapova and Venus and Serena Williams, as well as a multitude of other world-class players, including: Haas, Kournikova, Arias and Vaidisova, to name a few. The NBTA quickly became synonymous with tennis excellence and its coaches and students continue to reflect Nick’s passion for excellence and the game. In 1987, Nick expanded his vision when he joined forces with IMG to turn the Tennis Academy into a multi-sport training facility, now known as IMG Academies. Located on over 400 acres, the IMG Academies complex trains over 13,000 junior, collegiate, adult & professional athletes annually, including families and corporate groups, from over 75 countries annually. At 80 years old, Nick is still going strong, rising at 4:20 am every morning to get to the gym by 5:00 am. He starts coaching at 5:30 am, stopping only for a quick lunch before finishing his last lesson at 7:00 p.m. Nick teaches private lessons, as well as oversees the progress of numerous professional players, the Elite Juniors, and the general Academy groups. He also travels around the country and internationally on an annual basis conducting clinics, making appearances, and giving motivation speeches for all audiences.
Nick brings his own passionate style to everything he does and a message that cannot be ignored. He has always relied on his resilient and positive attitude and unique strengths to enable him to attain his current level of success. He is a strong advocate and role model for living a healthy lifestyle. Nick demands a lot out of himself, all those who work for him, and those who train with him. Nick is extremely zealous about giving back to the community and is especially inspired by programs that help children. He is currently involved in a number of great opportunities for children who may not be as fortunate as others. Nick has written numerous books on tennis, contributed to many television and video programs and is recognized for his promotion of the sport, especially among the youth. The Bollettieri name is recognized worldwide as a leader and innovator in the world of sports.
AWARDS AND RECOGNITIONS:
2012 Sarasota Sister cities- One World Award
2011 Tennis Industry Hall of Fame - Inductee
2011 Sixth Annual Dick Vitale Gala - Honoree
2010 Recipient of City Park’s Vitas Gerulaitis Award
2010 LTA Lifetime Contribution to Coaching Award
2010 Florida Gulf Coast Tennis Hall of Fame - Inductee
2009 Alabama Sports Hall of Fame - Inductee
2009 Recipient of Bob Larson Person of the Year Award
2008 NY College of Health Professions - Honorary Doctorate in Humane Letters and Commencement Speaker
2007 USPTA Florida Division Hall of Fame - Inductee
2006 Manatee County Government – Bollettieri Boulevard Street Dedication
2005 Lawn Tennis Writers’ Association – Honorary Membership
2005 Tennis Magazine – List of 40 Greatest Moments of the Last 40 Years
2004 Florida Sports Hall of Fame - Inductee
2003 Arthur Ashe Institute for Urban Health - Spirit of Sports and Service Award Honoree
2003 Sarasota Italian Cultural Event – Cultural and Heritage Award
2002 American Cancer Society - Cartier Grand Slam Legend Award
2002 Boys and Girls Club of Sarasota County Hall of Fame - Inductee
2002 City of North Miami Beach – Dedication at the Judge Arthur Snyder Tennis Center
2002 Italian American Hall of Fame – Inductee
2000 Tennis Magazine – List of 50 Most Influential People In Tennis
1999 International Tennis Hall of Fame – Tennis Education Merit Award
1999 Sarasota Herald Tribune – One of the 20 most influential people in the Tampa Bay Area
1999 The Sporting Life – Listed in top 25 people who have influenced tennis in the past century
1999 United States Olympic Committee – National Coach of the Year for Tennis
1998 Manatee and Sarasota Counties – Distinguished Citizen of the Year Award
1998 Board of Child Care – National Symposium of Children and Poverty – Award for Devotion to Child Health
1996 United States Navy – Flight with Blue Angels
1994 Spring Hill College Hall of Fame - Inductee
1991 USPTA – Coach of the Year
1989 Sharp – Professional Coach of the Year
1987 USTA – Community Service Award
1983 USPTA – First Master Pro Group
1981 Florida Professional Tennis Association – Pro of the Year
COMMUNITY SERVICE:
07-12 Honorary Chair – Everglades Foundation Gala
06-12 Supporter – Dick Vitale Gala for Cancer Research (The V Foundation)
05-12 Supporter – Robin Hood Foundation
04-12 Founder – Camp Kaizen
04-12 Board Member – Inner City Tennis (ICT) Program
04-12 Member – USPTA Player Development Advisory Council
2003 Sponsor – Tennis with the Pros Event Benefiting Health Central Foundation
01-12 Supporter – Boys and Girls Clubs of Manatee County
01-12 Founder & Creator - Tennis in a Can
00-12 Member - USTA Advisory Committee USA Tennis Coaching Education Program
2000 Board Member – Sarasota Open
00-01 Founder – Fun for Kids Foundation
2000 Board Member – Panda Foundation Inc.
99-03 Board Member – Foundation for Dreams
1999 Honorary Co-Chair – USPTA Tennis Across America
1996 Honorary Chair – USPTA Tennis Across America
91-95 Board of Directors – Arthur Ashe Safe Passage Foundation
1987 Co-Founder – Ashe-Bollettieri ‘Cities’ Tennis Program (ABC)
TENNIS RECORD:
Nick Bollettieri has coached every level of player throughout his career: professionals, juniors, college, and club players…. He is arguably the most successful coach in tennis history.
Nick has personally worked with:
Ten (10) Number One ATP/WTA Tour Players (Singles):
Andre Agassi
Boris Becker
Jim Courier
Martina Hingis
Jelena Jankovic
Marcelo Rios
Monica Seles
Maria Sharapova
Serena Williams
Venus Williams
Two Number One ATP/WTA Tour Players (Doubles):
Mark Knowles
Max Miryni
Ten Top Ten ATP/WTA Tour Players (Singles):
Jimmy Arias
Carling Bassett
Thomas Enqvist
Brad Gilbert
Brian Gottfried
Tommy Haas
Anna Kournikova
Mary Pierce
Mark Philippousis
Nicole Vaidisova
Five Top 20 ATP/WTA Tour Players (Singles)
Tatiana Golovin
Xavier Malisse
Max Mirnyi
Vince Spadea
David Wheaton
Pro Tour players who Nick has worked with on a personal basis or who have trained at the Nick Bollettieri Tennis Academy:
ATP TOUR PLAYERS
Andre Agassi
Paul Annacone
Hicham Arazi
Jimmy Arias
Boris Becker
Jim Courier
Martin Damm
Mike DePalmer, Jr.
Slava Dosedel
Younes El Aynaoui
Thomas Enqvist
Brad Gilbert
Justin Gimblestob
Jordan Cox
Marc-Kevin Goellner
Brian Gottfried
Jim Grabb
Olivier Gross
Tommy Haas
Rodney Harmon
Chip Hooper
Yevgeny Kafelnikov
Mark Knowles
Petr Korda
Aaron Krickstein
Karol Kucera
Jesse Levine
David MacPherson
Xavier Malisse
Cecil Mammitt
Nicolas Massu
Paul-Henri Mathieu
Andrei Medvedev
Max Mirnyi
Francisco Montana
Andy Murray
Diego Nargiso
Kei Nishikori
Yannick Noah
Jiri Novak
Marcus Ondruska
Mark Philippoussis
David Rikl
Christian Ruud
Marcelo Rios
Marat Safin
Pete Sampras
Vince Spadea
Radek Stepanek
Cyril Suk
Jeff Tarango
Laurence Tieleman
Daniel Vacek
Glenn Weiner
David Wheaton
WTA PLAYERS
Nicole Arendt
Carling Bassett
Daniela Bedanova
Elena Bovina
Sandra Cacic
Pam Casale
Catalina Cristea
Erika deLone
Mariaan de Swardt
Ruxandra Dragomir
Mary Jo Fernandez
Andrea Glass
Tatiana Golovin
Julie Halard-Decugis
Daniela Hantuchova
Martina Hingis
Kathleen Horvath
Anke Huber
Jelena Jankovic
Sonya Jeyaseelan
Anna Kournikova
Michelle Larcher de Brito
Sabine Lisicki
Mirjana Lucic
Iva Majoli
Amelie Mauresmo
Rachel McQuillan
Karin Miller
Nadia Petrova
Terry Phelps
Mary Pierce
Rafaella Reggi
Brie Rippner
Chanda Rubin
Monica Seles
Maria Sharapova
Anne-Gaelle Sidot
Alexandra Stevenson
Helena Sukova
Andrea Temesvari
Nicole Vaidisova
Carolina Vis
Marlene Weingartner
Serena Williams
Venus Williams
