Tom Fontana
Director of Tennis
Tom has many years of experience in tennis and, along with his staff of certified teaching professionals, will serve as the PATC Director of Tennis. As a top-ranked junior player, Tom reached the Number 1 ranking in the East in Boys 16’s and 18’s, and, in 1981, was selected to the prestigious Junior Davis Cup Team. While attending the University of Texas, Tom played the Number 1 position, reaching Number 17 in the Men’s College Ranks. He continued on to the Mens’ Professional Tour reaching an ATP tour ranking in the top 300, and played against such notable pros as Andre Agassi, Patrick McEnroe, Leif Shiras, and Bill Scanlon. He has coached many top juniors, including Jersey’s Justin Gimelstob, and other ATP players. Additionally, Tom has coached several New Jersey State Singles Champions; Robbie Chess (Duke), Adam Wager (Michigan), and Talia Smoke (U.S. Air Force Academy). Tom was elected to the Asbury Park Press’ All-Century Tennis Team in 2000.
Testimonials:
Paul Annacone–Former touring professional player, and former coach of open-era leader in Grand Slams Roger Federer and former World No. 1 Pete Sampras and Tim Henman. Paul is currently a tennis commentator for the Tennis Channel.
- “Tom has a tremendous mind for tennis, knows the game inside-out and will have a huge impact coaching and teaching at any level.”
- “Tom is a natural coach and is a great communicator with tons of passion for tennis to improve players at all levels.”
- “Tom’s energy and desire to teach are key to helping his students improve.”
From Justin Gimelstob–Former touring professional player, has 15 doubles championships–including the 1998 Australian Open and 1998 French Open mixed doubles titles with Venus Williams. Was twice member of the US Davis Cup Team.
“Tom Fontana is an incredible tennis coach. I believe he is one of the best and most knowledgeable in the world. However, he is so much more than a tennis coach to me. He is one of the most important people in not only my tennis life, but my life overall. He is family. I met and started working with Tom when I was a young junior. Tom helped develop and shape my game while also impacting every other aspect of my life. His understanding of the sport, friendship, guidance, and support were vital to everything I achieved at every level of junior, college, and professional tennis. When I think back at many of the most enjoyable, important, and proudest moments of my career; from winning Kalamazoo, becoming the #1 player in collegiate tennis at UCLA, battling through dramatic 5 set matches into the late nights of the US OPEN, competing against all the greats like Federer, Nadal, Sampras, Agassi, Rafter, Chang, Courier, Hewitt, Kuerten, all the way through retiring on Arthur Ashe Stadium after a loss to Andy Roddick, Tom was always there for me, in every way. One of my most cherished pictures is of an emotional embrace with Tom and my father minutes after winning my first main draw match at the US OPEN when I was 18 years old in a brutal 5 set win. Tom pushed me to my limits to be the best I could be. He challenged me to compete and give everything I had in order to accomplish my dreams. The love, respect, gratitude, appreciation, and all the sacrifices were captured in that moment. There is no doubt that Tom Fontana is an amazing and talented tennis coach, but he is way more than that, he is truly a special person.”
Patrick Smith
Tennis Professional
Pat has joined the PATC team as an experienced tennis professional. Pat’s mission is to share his passion and joy of tennis with students, assisting them in all the directions this life-long sport can take them!
Pat has been a teaching tennis professional for 32 years, having taught at the Allaire Racquet Club, the Atlantic Club, and as Tennis Director at the Mantoloking Yacht Club. Pat was the head tennis pro at the Spring Lake Bath and Tennis Club, Bay Head Yacht Club, and the Manasquan River Yacht Club.
Pat has taught thousands of tennis players from Toms River to Red Bank. He is experienced in teaching all recreational levels/ages, USTA levels from 2.5 to 4.5, and college level mens/womens players. He has enthusiasm for the game and competes at the 4.5 Level and currently plays in USTA 9.0 Mixed Doubles and in the USTA 4.5 Mens League
Testimonials:
From Christopher “Mad Dog” Russo-Sirius XM Radio Personality.
“Any tennis club that has Pat Smith either on staff or better yet as head pro, is better for it. He has the unique ability to work with any level of play-male, female, child, 2.5, or 5.0-with equal aplumb. He lives on a tennis court, knows the game inside and out. He would quite frankly rather be doing nothing else. I would not hesitate.”
From Tom Rinaldi–Reporter for ESPN.
“What is the greatest thing a pro can give someone who steps on a tennis court? There may be as many answers as there are kinds of players. Some of us want to break free of the sliced backhand. Some want to develop an acceptable, and reliable, second serve. Some want to learn the technique to handle a low volley. Some of us want, just once, finally to hit an overhead that doesn’t sail into the back fence. But nearly every one, on every court, wants something more fundamental: to feel the joy of playing. I’ve yet to meet a man on a tennis court who cultivates and spreads that joy more genuinely than Pat Smith. In my 15 years as a correspondent and announcer for ESPN, I’ve had the chance to call matches at Wimbledon, conduct interviews on Arthur Ashe, and hand out the women’s and men’s trophies at the US Open. It’s a fantastic gig, one that has allowed me to spend time with Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, Serena Williams and colleagues like John and Patrick McEnroe and Chris Evert. But far from the brightest stages of the sport, on courts where the game is taught and shared by the rest of us, Pat is a pro equal in talent to the legends of the sport I’ve covered. In watching him teach our children over multiple summers at the Jersey shore, I see someone with boundless energy and infectious cheer, who in half an hour can turn our daughter’s reluctance on the court into a budding confidence that, yes, she can hit the ball like her brother. Or better. In the times when we’ve hit together, Pat is equal parts challenger and cheerleader–showing me new ways to build a better backhand, and then taking me through drills that I can carry home with me after we’re done. His knowledge of the game, his touch with players of all levels, and his passion to teach are all abundant. But what has connected me to Pat for all these years is that first fundamental: his joy. In that, Pat has taught me much more than a western grip, or a first serve return.”
From Jordan Vasarkovy-Senior on the Wilkes University Women’s Tennis Team. She is the number 1 singles and number 1 doubles player and the MAC Freedom Conference Player of the Year.
“He has been my tennis coach for the past nine years. He has improved my tennis game tremendously. Thanks to Pat, I have a well-rounded game and my play is strong in all aspects. Without Pat, I do not believe that I would be the top level collegiate athlete that I am today. His approach to teaching is one of tough love and father like, and because of this, my game has improved beyond what I thought was possible. Pat is knowledgeable in all areas of tennis, whether it be technique, transition, or insightful game plans. I feel that others would benefit greatly from him as their coach, whether they are young children wanting to someday play in high school and college or adults wanting to be more competitive while playing in round robins/USTA tournaments, and every type of player in between.”
From Geoffrey Diehl–Sophomore on the Drew University Men’s Tennis Team. Freshmen Year, he played 4 singles and 1 doubles.
“I have been taking lessons from Pat Smith during the summers for my entire life. There is nothing but positive things I have to say about Pat. He is amazing at teaching people of all ages, and everyone he teaches absolutely loves him. Taking lessons from Pat has made my game immensely better. When I was younger, the only thing I wanted to do was hit forehands and out power people. It would work at a younger age, but it got to the point where that wasn’t going to work. Pat would tell me that eventually people were going to be able to hit harder than I could, so we had to start switching my game. Pat always preaches being an all-court player, being able to do a little bit of everything, so you won’t be predictable to your opponent. When I would only hit forehands, I was a very predictable player, so my opponents always knew how to beat me. When we started changing my style to an all-court player, I noticed results right away. My game is still based around my big forehand, but now I mix in chip-and charges, serve and volleys, just to name a couple, and it helps keep my opponent off balanced. The thing that was going to separate myself from my teammates in college is doubles. I didn’t play doubles in high school because I wasn’t allowed to play both in high school and I played number 1 singles. This is where Pat made the biggest impact on my tennis game. The things that Pat taught me, from knowledge to skills, on the doubles courts is almost indescribable. The fact that I played number 1 doubles as a freshman over kids that had been playing college doubles for multiple years is astounding, and I owe all of that to Pat. The knowledge that Pat has on the tennis court is just amazing, and I wouldn’t be where I am today without Pat. I really appreciate what Pat has done for me, made me a better tennis player, and just a better person.”
Andrew Aufseeser
Tennis Professional
Andrew has been playing since he was 4 years old. While at Ocean Township High School, Andrew played singles and was a nationally ranked junior in the Boys 14-18s in the USTA. Andrew began teaching tennis in his senior year of high school.
The past two summers, Andrew taught over 40 hours a week with a local coach and also was the head pro at Deal Yeshiva camp.
Until recently, Andrew was playing on the pro circuit, traveling the world playing ITF futures. In August 2017, Andrew played in Saskatoon Canada. and in November, he played in Monterrey, Mexico, Metepec, Mexico, the Dominican Republic, and Tallahassee, Florida.
Andrew received tennis training in Sarasota/IMG Academy.
PTR Certified Professional
PTR Certified 10 and under
PTR Certified 11-17
PTR Certified Performance
USRSA Member