Michael Mercier

Experience

Harvard University
Head Tennis Professional
Cambridge, MA                                                           
September 2004 - Present                                                                              

Provide individual and group instruction for over 100,000 Harvard alumni, family, and affiliates who hail from around the globe. Develop and direct daily tennis clinics, recreational round robins, universal mixed club ladder, and focused skills clinics. Provide intensive private lessons for a broad spectrum of player levels from beginners to collegiate-ranked players.  Serve and volunteer leader for the Harvard community programs including:  Harvard University Men/Women Club Tennis Team-Advisor, Tenacity, Special Olympics, Wheelchair Tennis, Harvard Alumni events, Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital, Harvard Tennis teams racquet stringing and others. Cultivate and develop tennis programs and events for the Harvard community; able to communicate with a diverse group of international people.  During tenure grew program participation program from single digits to over 600 active players with weekly clinic attendance averaging over 20+ per session. Drawing top juniors and adults from other programs for private lessons, weekly clinics and tournament coaching. 

Boston Lobsters, World Team Tennis
Director of Operations                                                       
April 2009 - 2000

Responsible for pre-season operations that include: Event marketing, inventory of operational materials, stadium set-up, recruitment, and management of interns for match day venues, final timelines, scheduling of event and acting liaison for all participating players and their coaches for the season. Seasonal responsibilities include, but not limited to: stadium preparations, sound system set up and DJ/PA announcing coordinating, scoreboard numbers and name plates, player comfort and hydration facilitation on and off court, management of medical staff, training and monitoring of ball person operation, participation and development of an Emergency Preparedness Plan for the season and American with Disabilities Act plan for venue that includes full turn key from arrival/departure, vendor services, seating, weather emergency, restroom access, and special volunteers as needed. Viewer attendance up to 8,000 and volunteer participation up to over 100 per event.

USTA New England
Wheelchair Tennis Chairperson
January 2000 - Present
                                                                                                                                      
Responsible for the execution of USTA organizational mission “to promote and develop the growth of tennis” via wheelchair modality throughout New England. Implementing the core values of integrity, excellence, teamwork, accountability, inclusivity, and service to oversee 18 state representative and ambassadors throughout New England. Together providing instruction, participation, training, and competition for over 200 active participants integrating “wounded warriors”, disabled veterans, and limited mobility individuals into mainstream sports ventures.

USPTA New England Board of Directors
Vice President                                           
January 2010 - Present
 
Volunteer senior leadership cadre for the oversight and training of over 700 teaching tennis professionals throughout New England providing unequalled opportunities for tennis-teaching professionals to improve their teaching skills and increase their business knowledge. The USPT Association also serves as a forum for the exchange of information, ideas and experience among its members.

USPTA National Wheelchair Tester/Specialty Course Speaker       
January 2001- Present

Renowned world-wide instructor and tester teaching and evaluating wheelchair tennis skills to teaching tennis professionals, physical therapists, recreational leaders, and coaches dramatically expanding the exposure of wheelchair tennis throughout the United States. Since commencing has conducted hundreds of wheelchair sports camps, lectures, and presentations receiving numerous formal accolades.

Beverly Golf & Tennis Club
Director – Mercier Competitive Edge Tennis  
Beverly, MA
2002 – Spring 2007                                                       

Manage the Competitive Edge Tennis and Soccer Program and all operations for 100-year-old 10-clay court public tennis facility. Oversaw community outreach, recreational needs assessment, and program development for over 2000 players. Coordinate club and community activities including: multicultural clinics, USTA tournaments and leagues, special events for club members, high school teams, the Beverly School for the Deaf, and the general public. Coach High Performance Junior and Wheelchair Tennis. Represent BGTC at events on both the community and regional level. Other duties: budget development; management of other recreational facilities; staff supervision; equipment purchasing; pro-shop; court maintenance operations; and regulation of facility safety and liability.                                                               

USTA New England Competition Training Center for Eastern Massachusetts
Director and Head Coach
May 1999-June 2007                                                                                                   

Directed and coached national recognized USTA High Performance junior Competition Training Center program for 20 New England top ranked girls and boys for age 14 and under. The program consisted of on-court drills, match play in world tennis team format utilizing Dartfish video, as well as on-court training in areas such as mental toughness, nutrition, and strength and conditioning. Secured funding sponsorships to supplement program budget, trained professional staff, and invited guest speakers. Held at Cambridge, MA, Beverly, and Manchester-by-the-Sea, MA.                              

Tennis Professional
Winchester Indoor Lawn Tennis Center
Winchester, MA
2001 – 2005

Head Tennis Pro & Director of Junior Development
Director - USA NE Competition Training Center
Manchester Athletic Club
Manchester-by-the-Sea, MA
1999 - July 2001

Tennis Director
Diamond Cove (Fort McKinley)
Portland, ME
1994 - 1999

Tennis Director
The Neighborhood Club
Newton, MA
Summer 1999

Tennis Professional & Squash Director/Pro
The Woodlands Club
Falmouth, ME
1998-1999

Head Tennis Professional & Director of Junior Development
Maine Pines Racquet & Sports
Brunswick, ME
1996 - 1998

Co-Director/Teaching Professional
Nike Tennis Camp – Colby College
Waterville, ME
Summer 1998

Guest Tennis Professional
Balsam Resort Hotel
Dixville Notch, NH
Summer 1998

Camp Tennis Director
Camp Kippewa for Girls
Monmouth, ME
Summer 1997

Head Tennis CoachWayneflete School (1st State Prep School Champs)
Portland, ME
1995-1996

Tennis Manager
Nevada Bob’s Golf & Tennis (Top Sales Mgr)
South Portland, ME 
1986-1996

Professional Soccer Player: Reserve Team
Tampa Bay Rowdies, NA Soccer League
Tampa, FL
1983-1984

Tennis Professional
Innisbrook Golf & Tennis Resort
Tarpon Springs, FL
1982-1983

Professional Certifications & Associations:

• USPTA/USPTR Tennis Professional
• CPR and First Aid – American Heart Association Certified                                                                     
• United States Tennis Association – Life Member                                      
• USPTA Guest Speaker – Wheelchair Tennis & Special Event NE/Texas/Florida
• U. S. Open Arthur Ashe Tennis Day, Guest Teaching Pro (annually)
• Play Tennis Across America, (Tennis USA 1,2,3), Multicultural
• Board of Directors - Maine Tennis Association - 1987-1991
• USPTA Tennis Across America - Multicultural
• Prince Pro National Advisory Staff –Tennis & Squash Clinics, Exhibitions
• Director – USTA, P.V.A. and M.T.A. New England Wheelchair Camp, 1999 - current
• National Girls and Women Sports Committee –1996-1999
• Wimbledon Staff Advisory Board 1986-1989
• USTA NE Tennis League Verifier, USTA National Schools Clinician
• Tennis Magazine Equipment Advisory Board 1982-1986
• Portland, Maine, Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors -Tennis Rep 1996-2000
• Maine Senior Games – Tournament Director (1995 – 1999)
• Old Port Festival Portland, ME, annual one-day tennis promotion (over 10,000 attendees)

Distinctions:          

• 2012 Professional Tennis Registry (PTR) Member of the Year for the State of Massachusetts
• 2008 Brad Parks Wheelchair Tennis Pro Year
• 2008 Wheelchair Champion of the Year-Racquet Sports Industry Magazine
• 2007 USPTA New England Wheelchair Tennis Pro of Year
• 2003 USPTA New England Tennis Professional of the Year
• 2002 and 1998 USPTA New England Eastern Tennis Professional of the Year
• Former USA Wheelchair National Coach and Jr. World Team Cup, Italy 2002
• USPTA (P-1 Professional), USPTR Tennis Professional
• USPTA National Wheelchair Tester
• USTA New England 35,30,25-Year Distinguished Service Gold Ball Award
• 2000 USPTA Top Ten Award for Career Development
• National Eagle Scout Association, Eagle Scout  

Education & Career Development

• USTA National High Performance Certified Coach
• United States Squash and Racquet Association - Certified racquet technician
• Pat Etcheberry Certified Fitness / Tennis Coach –Saddlebrook Resort, Florida
• USTA New England TDM (Tournament Director, certified)

University of Maine of Presque Isle

B.S. Recreation /Resort Management and Business Administration – 1982
Minor in Coaching and Physical Education, B.A. Recreation and Leisure – 1980