Play Tennis at Atkinson-Stern Tennis Center

Coach Mike is a Pittsburgh native spending the majority of his teaching career in Charleston, SC. A former top-50 nationally ranked Division I player, Michael has dedicated his life to the sport—both as a competitor and coach. His coaching journey began at the USTA national training center (JTCC) in College Park Maryland, where he worked alongside elite players like Frances Tiafoe and Dennis Kudla, and learned from renowned coaches including Frank Salazar and Chuck Kriese. Whether working with beginners or fine-tuning advanced players, Mike brings energy, strategic insight, and a passion for helping each player reach their full potential. Mike is an Elite PTR certified tennis professional and has a Universal Tennis Rating (UTR) of 12.0. From coaching in the pinnacle - WTA & ATP Tour Players (Hailey Baptiste, Shelby Rogers, Alison Riske / Frances Tiafoe, Reilly Opelka, Denis Kudla) - to organizing after school elementary teams; Coach has a deep understanding of all aspects that is tennis. Regardless of where a student lies within the spectrum, Mike thrives getting people to fall in love with the sport that defined his life.

"Coach Mike’s deep understanding of technique and mechanics is impressive. He can dissect your strokes with precision and then show you exactly how it’s done – because he’s still playing at a high level himself. His lessons feel like a masterclass with someone who knows what it takes to compete. I have trained with a handful of coaches throughout my junior career, but non of them put their heart into my game like coach. Don’t think I would have as much success without him.