Nick Bollettieri

Class of: 2004

Sport: Tennis

Nick Bollettieri is one of the most influential people in the world of tennis and a legend who has transcended the sport. In 1978, he founded the Nick Bollettieri Tennis Academy (NBTA) in Florida. The NBTA was the first full-time tennis boarding school to combine intense training on the court with a custom-designed academic curriculum.

What was once a program of primarily on-court training has evolved into a multi-faceted approach which includes blending the technical and strategic on-court training with specialized performance physical training and mental conditioning. The Bollettieri approach not only builds athletes on the court, but more importantly, prepares them for a successful life off the court as well.

It was this proven method that Nick used to coach 10 No. 1 players in the world – Andre Agassi, Boris Becker, Jim Courier, Martina Hingis, Jelena Jankovic, Marcelo Rios, Monica Seles, Maria Sharapova and Venus and Serena Williams, as well as a multitude of other world-class players, including Tommy Haas and Anna Kournikova to name a couple. The NBTA quickly became synonymous with tennis excellence and its coaches and students continue to reflect Nick’s passion for excellence and the game.

Nick died December 4, 2022.