Our Team

Over the last 20 years, Chris's coaching journey has taken him across both the U.S. and New Zealand, with major leadership roles in both countries. 

From 2015 to 2024, he co-directed New Zealand’s largest and most successful tennis academy, Sparta Tennis. Before moving to NZ, and for all of 2024, he held a range of positions in the US. These positions included Director of Tennis (Tucker Tennis Academy), Director of 12U Player Development (LTP Tennis Academy), and Director of High Performance (USCTDP, Inc). Additionally, he has also served at the collegiate level as both a Head and Assistant Coach across both the NCAA Division I and Division II levels. 

Through these positions he has coached players who have won or gone onto win more than 40 singles & doubles national championships, numerous #1 national rankings, and 50+ players to college tennis, including many to 'high major' NCAA Division I teams.

While Chris’s 'on-court coaching' focus will be our Academy classes, he will continue to lead select adult sessions and work closely with the Tennis Committee to ensure all Browns Bay Racquet Club members are well-supported.

Lauren has been playing tennis since she was 5 years old. During her time at Westlake Girls High School, Lauren was selected for the exclusive, high-performance programme, Cygnet, for top competitive athletes, where she represented her school in tournaments and inter-school competitions. 

Now, Lauren plays competitive interclub for Browns Bay's top Mixed Doubles team, Browns Bay A1-grade team for North Shore Ladies Tennis and socially on Thursday Nights for Browns Bay's Tut's Tourney.

Lauren is active in her tennis community, with roles such as:

• Love Tennis Youth Lead Ambassador

• Lead coach for Junior Hot Shots programmes and Friday Junior Club Night

• Member of the Browns Bay Racquets Club Tennis Committee

• Junior Convenor for Browns Bay Racquets Club

As Lead Club Coach for Level-Up Tennis, Lauren specialises in Hot Shots Tennis juniors, and beginner to intermediate level adult players. 

Additionally, Lauren brings her unique skill as Club Coaching Manager, responsible for the operations and marketing for club coaching programmes at Level-Up Tennis. 

As a junior competitive player, Ben won multiple North Harbour and Auckland age group championships, leading to being ranked in the Top 15 nationally in all age groups. 

Continuing his competitive career, Ben earned a tennis scholarship to Bluefield College in Virginia, USA. After completing his freshmen year season with an undefeated 11-0 win streak, he was awarded: 

• Freshman of the Year honours

• All-Freshman First Team 

• All-Conference First Team for the Appalachian Athletic Conference.

Currently, Ben competes in doubles for Men's Chelsea Cup, Tennis Northern's elite premier tennis interclub competition.

As Senior Academy Coach for Level-Up Tennis, Ben specialises in tournament-level players and junior players progressing towards competitive play. 

Briar started playing interclub at 6 years old. At 11 years old, she was representing New Zealand at international events:

• Junior Fed Cup Team to represent New Zealand at the prestigious ITF 14U World Teams Event

•  Briar won a national title at every junior age division from 12U-18U

Following her early success, Briar competed on the ITF circuit where she travelled the world playing tournaments, competing in Junior Grand Slams, and reaching a career high ranking of #80 in the world. 

At 16 years old she was named to the NZ Women's Fed Cup team. Briar accepted a full scholarship to the University of Arizona where she reached a career high ranking of #40 in singles and #15 in doubles. 

Briar has served as Regional Performance Coach at Tennis Northern, where she worked primarily with their 14U and high performance groups. From 2020, she coached as Senior Performance Coach for Sparta Academy in Auckland. 

As Senior Academy Coach for Level-Up Tennis, Briar specialises in Academy-level, high-performance junior players that are moving into regional and national competition.

During her junior years, Dana competed in national individual and team events, including winning the national 12U teams event in 2008/2009 and secdonary schools national in 2011.

Previously, Dana was head coach for Base Tennis, based in Whanganui. Her roles included:

• Promoting tennis programmes to increase participation

• Planning and running lessons for junior and adult players

• Organising junior development and representative squads/events

As Senior Club Coach for Level-Up Tennis, Dana specialises in beginner to intermediate level junior and adult players. 

Isabella started learning tennis at the age of 12, and has loved it ever since. She comes from a European background, with Serbian roots, and has a strong connection to the sport through her family. 

Isabella is an active competitor within the North Harbour tennis scene with:

• Browns Bay A1-grade team for North Shore Ladies Tennis

• Women's Chelsea Cup for Browns Bay

In addition to tennis, Isabella has also competed in racquet sports events such as the New Zealand Padel tour. In the last few years, she has coached at Albany Tennis Park, delivering both group and individual coaching. 

As Lead Club Coach for Level-Up Tennis, Isabella specialises in Hot Shots Tennis juniors, and beginner to intermediate level adult players.

Linus has been playing tennis since the age of 13. In China, Linus played tennis for the Guangdong University of Foreign Studies (GDUFS). In the National College Student League, an annual college-level competition, his highest performance placed him in the Top 8 for singles. 

During his three years at Guangdong University, Linus also coached tennis as Head Coach for the GDUFS Student Association Sports programme. After graduating, Linus continued coaching tennis in his home town and local club for the next 10 years.

In his first year in New Zealand, Linus was a Club Coach for Lugton Park Tennis Club, based in Hamilton. He has since moved up to Auckland and joined our Level-Up Tennis coaching team as a Junior Club Coach.

During his school years, Dave enjoyed playing a variety of sports, including football, basketball, volleyball and table tennis. One of his proudest sporting memories was representing his school’s volleyball team in the provincial competition.

Before moving to New Zealand, Dave played tennis in his community for more than 15 years. He particularly enjoys identifying a player’s strengths and recognising areas where they can develop further. He believes that every player has the potential to improve when they receive the right guidance, encouragement and support.

In addition to being a qualified tennis coach, Dave hold a Master’s degree in Development Practice, specialising in Community Development, from The University of Queensland, Australia. His academic background has strengthened his belief that tennis can bring people together, support mental wellbeing, and create a sense of belonging in a community.

As a coach, Dave is passionate about sharing the skills of tennis and the positive values that sport can bring to people. He looks forward to helping players enjoy the game, build confidence and continue developing both on and off the court.

Johnny is passionate for a wide variety of sports, and on his first visit to New Zealand, he found his love for tennis. During school, Johnny competed in both junior and senior tournament teams.

At Level-Up Tennis, Johnny provides a unique skill of specialising in:

• English and Mandarin fluent tennis lessons

• Providing a strong foundation of proper tennis technique

• Tailoring lessons to suit individuals and their personal tennis journey

As Junior Club Coach for Level-Up Tennis, Johnny specialises in private coaching for beginner junior players in either Mandarin and English.

Luca is a dedicated player with a strong foundation of technical and tactical skills. Luca competes in the Premier Boys league for Junior Interclub in the Tennis Norther Region. He also trains in our Academy I group coaching under Level-Up Tennis.

With a Coaching Assistant Course qualification, and the ambition to work towards his Development Coach qualification, Luca is committed to improving his coaching practice. 

Luca believes that a balance of challenge and fun is the key to improving tennis. His goal is to inspire players to stay committed to tennis and to continously support their development.

As Assistant Club Coach for Level-Up Tennis, Luca coaches in our Hot Shots Tennis programmes for junior players.