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   -- 2001 Lake Windward Drive, Alpharetta, GA 30005 770.442.5783
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Staff


Marcus
Rutsche

Adult Programs Director/ Associate Academy Professional

 

Marcus was a top junior from Sydney, Australia. He received a full scholarship from Div 1 Austin Peay State University, where he competed for four years. He was the team's Most Improved twice, scholar athlete, and was named MVP his senior year as their #1 singles and doubles player. Marcus graduated with a Bachelor's degree in Health and Wellness Promotion and has been teaching tennis since 1996 throughout Australia and the USA. With an impressive resume including coaching at The John Newcombe Tennis Ranch in New Brunfels, Texas and the New Albany Country Club in New Albany, Ohio, Marcus has also worked with Tennis Australia's talent identification program. Most recently he worked as travelling coach for WTA player Kat Bailey. Marcus is fitness Director at Windward Academy and runs the Home school conditioning program. He is USPTA certified (P-1).

 

Henry Darko

Academy Head Professional

Henry was born in Accra, Ghana where he learned to play tennis as a junior. He was consistently ranked in the top of his age group and received a full scholarship to the I.T.F Academy in South Africa. Henry finished top 20 on the I.T.F junior singles world ranking and top 10 in doubles. In 2001 henry made the round of 16 and quarterfinals of doubles at U.S Open juniors, made the semifinals doubles at the Orange Bowl. Henry turned pro in 2004 and named to ghana's Davis cup team. He's been training at Windward and traveling all over the world participating in Futures and Challenger tournaments. He has achieved a career high singles A.T.P ranking 279 and 388 doubles. Since turning pro he has accumulated, in singles 6 future titles, semi-final challenger. In doubles two futures titles and one challenger title and number 1 Davis Cup player for Ghana. Henry helps with windward students when he has a break from his hectic schedule. Windward Tennis Academy has Henry's full support.

 

Nick Jones

Associate Tennis Professional

 

Nick spent his junior playing career coming up through the Windward system. He worked his way through all the levels of Windward Tennis Academy, and while in elite, taught the select, high school, and advanced academies. He has trained and coached under Dave Power and Cannon Campbell for more than 10 years learning greatly from their experience. In high school, Nick played varsity all four years and was MVP his freshmen year when he went undefeated through the season. He was later given the title MVP again during his senior year. Nick graduated Cum Laude from the University of Georgia with a B.B.A. and a minor in Spanish. At UGA, he played club tennis all four years on the club team which was ranked 6th nationally at the time. Nick is a USPTA certified tennis professional.

 


 

 

 

 
 

 

 

Will Wright
Academy Director

Will grew up in Lincoln, England.
He played #1 singles and doubles for Jacksonville State University (JSU) for three years. As assistant tennis coach for the JSU Men’s Team in 2003 and 2004, the team finished second and first respectively in their conference and reached the Division 1 Regionals in 2004.

Will has eight years experience
teaching in Spain, England and the U.S., and is one of the top junior coaches in the South. As
a USPTR certified professional he works closely with Cannon Campbell, in training our elite juniors, currently working
with many top southern and national players. In 2008 he coached 12 players in the top 50 in the nation in their age group.

Will was selected as the 2007 Georgia Davis Cup team coach.
As director of the daytime program, his players have won two First Place, six Second
Place and three Third Place finishes in national championships. They have
won eight National Opens. His EPG players have also won over 50 Southern and State Championships in the first three years of the program. Will has built one of the strongest programs in the South. In 2008 he coached the Southern 14s
team in international competition against Mexico, USA and Canada.

 

Staton Helton

Asociate TEnnis Professional

Staton grew up playing tennis in Blakely, GA. He was the MVP of his high school team, losing only one match in four years. In junior tennis he was top 8 in Georgia and top 40 in the South in singles and was #1 in doubles in Georgia. He played collegiate tennis at Troy State University (Division I) in Troy, Alabama. Staton has been teaching tennis since 2003, having been an assistant pro at Altadena Valley Country Club in Birmingham, Alabama and West Lake Country Club in Augusta, Georgia. Staton is a USPTR certified professional.