Winter Park’s Bentley Named to USTA No-Cut Coach Tennis All-Star Team

Bentley with players on her boys’ team

Winter Park High School tennis coach Terri Bentley was this week named by the United States Tennis Association (USTA) as one of nine national members of its No-Cut Coach All-Star Team. The USTA No-Cut Coach All-Star Team recognizes exceptional high school coaches who implement an inclusive “no-cut” policy for their high school tennis players.

Bentley has for the last 18 years served as the head coach of the varsity boys and girls teams at Winter Park High School in Winter Park, Fla. Approximately 10 years ago Bentley started a no-cut policy for the junior varsity team that has continued to give high school players of all levels the opportunity to play.

A driving force in Florida high school tennis, Bentley currently serves on the Tennis Advisory Board for the Florida High School Athletic Association and is vice president of the Florida High School Tennis Coaches Association. Her coaching awards over the years have included the 2012 Girls State Coach of the Year by the National Federation of High School Coaches, 2016 Florida 4A Coach of the Year by Wilson, 2011 USTA Star Fish Award finalist, and 2015 No-Cut Coach All-Star Team award.

“By providing more students the opportunity to play and represent their high school, no-cut coaches provide their players with a lasting impression of inclusion and what it truly means to be part of a team,” said Director of USTA School Tennis Elliott Pettit. “We are proud to honor their contributions as these coaches play such a critical role in their players’ high school experience and in turn, in the future health of our sport.”

More than 4,000 tennis coaches nationwide since 2006 have made a commitment to offering a no-cut policy, with some programs including more than 100 team members on a high school team. The coaches of these teams make a difference by spending the extra time and effort to ensure that players experience the fun and fulfillment of playing tennis and participating in a school sport. Coaches are nominated by their respective USTA section. To qualify for the USTA No-Cut All-Star Team, coaches must be currently implementing a no-cut policy on their teams, and be currently registered with the USTA as a no-cut coach. Additionally, each candidate must have at least five years of experience coaching tennis.

Other coaches honored were Stacy Bryan, Abilene High School, Abilene, Texas; Mark Faber, Springfield High School, Holland, Ohio; Wendy Hastings, Menomonie High School, Menomonie, Wis.; John Herring, Henry Clay High School, Lexington, Ky.; Julie Krieg, Anthony Wayne High School, Whitehouse, Ohio; David Pintado, Mount Diablo High School, Concord, Calif.; Dale Shepard, Deer Valley High School, Phoenix, Ariz.; and Matt Wiemers, McCook High School, McCook, Neb.

For more info go to www.usta.com/news.