ITA Coaches Podcast - The Momentum Game: Coaching Match Dynamics featuring Alistair Higham

Alistair Higham draws on more than 40 years of coaching experience to explore the power of momentum and how it can shape the outcome of a tennis match. He explains that momentum is about more than the score, emphasizing the importance of recognizing how players respond to individual match events and changes in performance levels. Higham shares how coaches can help players identify shifts in momentum, capitalize on their strengths, and remain composed when a match begins to turn. For college coaches, particularly those managing multiple matches, understanding when to intervene and when to allow a player to work through a momentum shift can be a valuable tool for maximizing performance. This episode explores practical strategies for players and coaches to understand and leverage momentum for better performance.

Listen as Gabrielle Moore (Indiana) and Ronni Bernstein (Michigan) join ITA Director of Coach Education, Lauren Conching, on this special ITAW Coaches Corner Podcast. 

Danny Westerman has spent nearly two decades leading the University of Wisconsin men’s tennis program and has also played an important role in shaping the broader college tennis landscape as Chair of the NCAA Division I Tennis Operating Committee. In this conversation, Dave and Danny discuss how decision-making works in college tennis, the major issues facing Division I athletics, and why coaches should serve something larger than their own programs. Danny also reflects on his evolution as a coach over 19 years, the lessons and challenges that have shaped him, and the advice he would offer the next generation of college tennis coaches.

In this episode, we take you back to December 2022, to a conversation between Dave and Simon Earnshaw, Head Women’s Coach at NC State, where they discuss the philosophy that has guided his remarkable career, how he continues to adjust his approach to success, and much more. Simon is entering his 13th season at NC State, with 10 consecutive NCAA Championship appearances, three ACC Women’s Coach of the Year awards and the program’s first NCAA Final Four and National Championship match appearances. Prior to his time at NC State, Simon won 9 NCAA DII National Championship titles with Armstrong Atlantic (3 men’s titles, and 6 women’s titles).

In this episode, Hannah reflects on the pivotal decisions that shaped her coaching journey from Missouri State, to Georgia State, and back to Georgia Gwinnett, the lessons she learned from working alongside one of college tennis' most successful coaches, Chase Hodges, and the advice she would offer coaches stepping into head coaching roles for the first time. She also talks about the difficult decision to leave collegiate coaching and her new role with BUNKR, a company helping transform communication and collaboration.

For more than three decades, Vince Westbrook has led the men’s tennis program at University of Tulsa while helping shape college tennis through leadership roles with the ITA and NCAA. In this episode, Vince shares how he built Tulsa into a nationally recognized program through community engagement, fundraising, and long-term vision. He also discusses the evolving landscape of college athletics and offers insights on leadership, networking, and student-athlete development.

In the latest episode of the ITA Student-Athlete Council Podcast for Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, Case Western Reserve teammates Rohit Jain and Glen Ngo discuss Glen's upbringing in Honolulu, his transition to college tennis and how his sibling rivalry fueled his love for the sport. Jain, a member of the ITA Student-Athlete Council, shines light on Ngo's move from Hawaii to Cleveland, Ohio, while Ngo outlines how his "bet on yourself" mentality is helping him in his first season of college tennis.

In this month’s podcast, Dave dives into the inspiring journey of Harvard’s Head Men’s Tennis Coach Andrew Rueb, who transformed from a college tennis player at Harvard into a successful coach. Rueb's unique perspective on coaching, influenced by his academic background and personal experiences, offers valuable insights for aspiring coaches and athletes alike. Dave and Andrew discuss his approach to getting athletes to understand their purpose in tennis, his belief in fostering a supportive environment that encourages personal growth and the importance of being a lifelong learner in coaching.

In the latest episode of the ITA Student-Athlete Council Podcast, Case Western Reserve teammates Rohit Jain and Bryce Ware delve into their tennis journeys, how to navigate the physical and mental challenges of the game and how college tennis is preparing them for life after sport. Jain, a member of the ITA Student-Athlete Council, learns about Ware's transition to the Case Western Reserve after transferring from NAIA's Kansas Wesleyan. Ware details his passion for the sport, his career plans for post-graduation and how teaching at a nearby club in a gap-year helped him rediscover his passion for the game.

In the latest episode of the ITA Student-Athlete Council podcast, the Council's Rohan Murali of Harvard hosts Advik Mareedu of Claremont-Mudd-Scripps. Together, the two talk their respective journeys in college tennis and what makes the Division III game so special. Mareedu is freshly removed from one of the greatest seasons in DIII tennis history, winning the NCAA singles title in May and holding on to the No. 1 ranking throughout a majority of the 2024-25 season. He closed his season with a 41-1 record and was the seventh NCAA singles champion in program history. Mareedu was also an ITA All-American in singles and doubles, the SCIAC Athlete of the Year, HMC Athlete of the Year, CMS Athlete of the Year, CMS Team Most Valuable Player and both a CSC Academic All-American and an ITA Scholar-Athlete.