OUR COACHES
STEVEN MERKER
As the Head Coach/Club Manager, Steve overseas all the programs at Pioneer Tennis Inc. from the Learn & Play Lessons through to the Development/Performance Squad Program.
He has designed all the play programs at the club and is very proud in seeing people progress from one stage to the next through the play programs.
Born in Cairns & raised on the Darling Downs, Steve has been a coach since leaving school. After having a brief stint coaching overseas he returned home to Australia to set about helping juniors.
Together with a staff of 5 coaches, he founded and ran a business called Tennis United on the Darling/Western Downs of QLD. . The coaching school spanned over 23 clubs and operated for 8 years
In 2002, Steve took a job with Tennis NT as Regional Development Officer based in Katherine until that of 2006. He then returned back to QLD to run a club in Ingham before accepting the challenge at Mackay in 2016.
Steve loves designing programs, events and managing projects. He was a former TA Coach but now is with ATPCA holding a Graduate Pro Tennis Coaching Qualification.
He has served on numerous committees helping the state/national body and is currently the North's Regional Assembly's Company Member to Tennis Queensland.
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ALLAN HARRIS
A Level 3 TA Qualified Coach, Allan Harris coached former world No. Nicole Pratt as a junior and a number of state and national champions throughout his 35yr+ coaching career.
Allan is also a Tournament Referee and coordinated the
NQ JDS Series for 10+years & was a Tennis QLD Board Member for 6yrs.
Allan is a Senior Coach at Pioneer Tennis & works extensively with our Squad Program as well as coaches all aspects of the game in our 'Learn & Play' Program of RED, ORANGE and GREEN Stage.
Allan also does know a few things about resurfacing tennis courts, having helped clubs all over North and Far North QLD.
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DAVID "LEFTY" WRIGHT
Lefty Wright has a Level 2 with TA Coaches and works with Pioneer Tennis's Next Gen JT Squad. He is also regarded as our traveling coach accompanying juniors in their quests to become improved players.
A Mackay lad born and bred, Lefty grew up playing tennis on the family farm. He was a promising state junior player before leaving school and began working in the motor industry and later the sugar industry.
As a long serving full time coach at Pioneer Tennis, Lefty has also coaches at Sarina for many years and also coaches throughout the Mackay district's many country schools.
In additional to being a Qualified Club Professional Tennis Coach with TA, Lefty is highly regarded as one of the best Tournament Directors in N.Q.
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JANE SHEPHERD
Jane joined the team in 2016 and is a qualified Junior Development Coach with Tennis Australia.
Jane hails form country NSW and attended college in America before returning home to start a family.
As the Club's main coach who overseas the Learn and Play Program at the club, Jane also services a collection country schools in the Mackay district throughout the week.
A travelling coach for Pioneer Tennis, Jane also supervises a lot of squads whilst at tournaments across the state and takes a keen interest in their tennis and wellbeing as person.
Jane is also a mum to a junior and has a good insight to all sides of the tennis.
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PAULA KEIGHTLEY
Born and raised in Zimbabwe, Paula has held a Professional Development Coach with Tennis Australia and has been coaching since 2006 in Mackay.
Paula works in our Development Squad structure in Pioneer's JDS Squad.
She loves to share her passion for the game while encouraging friendships and fitness in the fresh air.
Her favorite all time player is Steffi Graf and loves seeing a forehand hit down the line in singles or doubles.
Paula also holds university degree in mental health and believes that sport is a big protective factor for young people.
MITCHELL WESTCOTT
Mitch is coaching in Pioneer's RED, ORANGE & GREEN STAGE of
PIONEER'S "Learn & Play Program."
A Central Queensland boy, Mitch has assisted juniors in Yeppoon, regularly played competition tennis & loves a club environment.
Chayne Adamson
A local tennis junior hailing from Sarina, Chayne is learning all things of being a tennis coach in the regions.
Chayne Adamson is completing a CERT II in Administration and completing his TA Level 1 coaching certificate over the next 2 years at Pioneer Tennis Inc.
Chayne coaches mainly in our RED, ORANG & GREEN ball classes and is involved in all administration of the weekly comps including the social Pickleball.