A last serve

Mahurangi East Tennis Club has bid farewell to its head coach, Hugo Santos, after seven years of coaching junior and senior players at the club.

The farewell included one final social tennis session followed by a dinner where members had the opportunity to celebrate Santos’ contribution off the court.

Originally from Colombia and with more than 10 years of coaching experience, Santos said his philosophy has always been to build a strong sense of community through sport.

“Through Tennis New Zealand’s Hot Shots programme, I’ve had the opportunity to work with children aged between three and 12, teaching them not only tennis skills but also values such as sportsmanship, respect and independence,” Santos said.

“It was incredibly moving to see so many people at the club for my farewell, as well as to receive so many messages and emails of thanks. At the end of the day, that’s what matters most.”

During his time at Mahurangi East Tennis Club, Santos developed a comprehensive coaching programme called SEED Tennis (Skills, Engagement, Environment and Development), which encourages learning both on and off the court.

“Together with my mentor, Nick Jaques, we created an app called Home Practice Philosophy, which encourages children to keep practising at home through games and fun challenges,” he said.

“Tennis is like learning to play a musical instrument – you need to practise regularly to improve. The app allows children to continue practising in a fun way while also rewarding them for their effort.”

The club’s coaching programme will now be led by new head coach John McLean, who has worked alongside Santos over the past year.

“I would like to sincerely thank everyone at Mahurangi East Tennis Club for their support and for trusting me throughout my time at the club,” Santos said.

“And, of course, thank you to all my students, from the youngest to the oldest, for these wonderful years together. It has been an unforgettable experience.”