Today we’d like to introduce you to Brent Wellman.
Coach Brent Wellman Junior Program Director/USTA High-Performance Coach.
Brent is not only a Coach’s coach but a player’s coach as well. Coach Wellman has the unique ability to work with all age groups and has concentrated his passions to Educate, Enrich and Encourage (3E’s).
A process is involved in becoming a Division I player or when shooting for professional ranks and that is a path Coach Brent is quite familiar with. This “process” is what Coach Brent is passionate about and enjoys combining knowledge, and experience using both “Old School” and ‘Modern Coaching methods. Coach Brent has helped over a 100 players reach College scholarships by using video analysis and college player videos. Coach Brent enjoys helping players go down the serious path of competitive tennis in a positive way!
Brent has worked with and played a successful role in the development of numerous professional athletes in both tennis and basketball. Brent has coached Division I basketball and tennis and has coached players from all over the world. Coach Wellman was the Head Women’s Coach at University of Central Florida, Pasco Hernando C.C. 1999-2002 and Hillsborough C..C.. 2002-2004. In 1987 named Division I, “Coach of the year,” in the Sun Belt conference at UCF.
Back to the “Process” – Coach Brent has been around great coaches for many years in both basketball and tennis. “When I was around any Legendary Coaches I was not there to be awestruck, I was there to learn. I always took notes and now with the iPhones I’m always taking notes on my phone”. I have notes from Rick Pitino, John Wooden, Dean Smith, Sam Alford, Steve Alford, Press Marivich, Pete Maravich, Guy Lewis, Gene Smithson, Lon Kruger, Denny Crum & Tom Crean, In Tennis Coach Brent worked with, Steve Smith, Vic Braden, Scott Williams and Robert Wocjik and spent time with Welby Van Horn and Jim Loehr. Coach Brent doesn’t mention those names to impress people but to let people know he has studied these coaches and their techniques of successful coaching. “ Often times, today’s coaches want to be great without doing their homework. Coaching is a privilege and with today’s young people you need to instruct them, guide & lead them through a culture that lies and misleads the youth daily”.
Coach Wellman worked 8 years with the Tennissmith School in Tampa directing player strength and conditioning programs and player stroke analysis.
During the time with Steve Smith, Brent worked with legend Vic Braden on player development camps. In that program were numerous college players and a few pro’s including 3 ATP players: Ryler Dehart, Raven Klaasen and Austin Krajicek and Connor Smith and numerous Division I players.
Coach Brent works with Delray Champions Competitive Program at the Delray Tennis Center. Besides Player Development, Coach Brent helps players with video analysis and College Prospect videos.
As tournament director, Coach Wellman runs many competitive USTA junior tournaments throughout the year.
Coach Brent Wellman – Kinesiology M.S. from Sam Houston State 1992
Physical Education from Indiana State 1982
Certified USPTA and ISSA Strength & Conditioning Specialist
USTA High-Performance Coach
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
The Lord gives you challenges to shape your character and enhance your toughness. 60+ years of living and I’ve come to realize that life is not for sissys. So many hardships along the way, yet so much to be thankful for. I lost three of my best friends to cancer in three years.
Life is too precious to waste, that’s why I purposefully aim at developing young people into young adults. When we were young we were filled with foolishness, it’s my job to redirect the young people and help them make leadership choices. Live disciplined lives in order to reach your dreams. I’m a technician with tennis strokes but It’s not about tennis it’s about developing character and mentoring young people. Everyone will have adversity regardless of being rich or poor. The Lord tells us to ‘To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly.” This is a is what we have to share with the world. Everyone needs encouragement and inspiration. No one does live alone. We need each other, especially with the modern confusion and chaos that young people have to go through.
Alright – so let’s talk business. Tell us about Brent Wellman Junior Tennis Director of Delray Champions Junior Tennis & High Performance – what should we know?
I direct the Delray Champions Junior Program at the Delray Tennis Center off of Atlantic Avenue. What separates our program from the rest is stroke efficiency and attention to details. Little things truly matter! Fortunately, I’ve been mentored by some high-level coaches in both basketball and tennis. In tennis working with Steve Smith and Vic Braden was like being in tennis classroom held on the court. Tennis is a game of skill and it’s very important you learn the skills, Sometimes coaches fool students into thinking they just to have fun and hit some balls and maybe eventually you will become a top tournament player. Don’t get me wrong, recreation tennis is fine. But if you want to be a competitive player don’t be fooled by coaches who don’t help young players transition from an inefficient technique. Becoming a tournament player isn’t everyone’s goal, but if you want to learn to hit the ball better, we want to help you!
Any shoutouts? Who else deserves credit in this story – who has played a meaningful role?
So many to thank and give credit along the way. Ed Kershner the Florida all-time winningest high school basketball coach hired me right out of college. He taught me the importance of building a program, creating a culture that works hard but laughs and has fun working hard! I worked with him for 4 years before I went to coach Division I basketball. I had three conversations with John Wooden whom I admire so much. He won 10 National Championships and the one thing I learned from him sticks with me today, “coaching talent isn’t easy.” Learning how to cope with success is very difficult because the bar is raised. In tennis, I learned from Steve Smith and Vic Braden that tennis can be developed successfully with a system based on physics and not on coaches opinion. Video is big in both basketball and tennis. Video is such a tool to show people their strengths and weaknesses. When I transitioned into tennis after coaching basketball, I knew how to break down video it’s critical in your game plans. So, when Steve Smith and Vic Braden showed me video analysis for the first time in tennis, I knew this wasn’t based on opinion, rather the truth was told through the picture.
Contact Info:
- Phone: 727-919-2011
- Email: impactwellman@gmail.com
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