New Harnett Central tennis coach Jay James.
Teaching professional Jay James has been named to coach boys and girls tennis next school year at Harnett Central. James teaches business at the high school.
“My short term team goals will be to finish in the top three in the Tri-County Six 3-A Conference this year as a team in both girls and boys tennis, have multiple regional individual qualifiers in both girls and boys tennis and begin to build a tennis culture at Harnett Central High School,” James said. “Long term team goals will be to win the conference championship in girls and boys tennis, have regional individual champions, compete for a Mid-East Regional Championship in girls and boys tennis and obtain state rankings in both girls and boys tennis.
“Most importantly, along with the wins and losses, I want these young ladies and young men to become not only better players but better people. I am a big believer that sports imitates life. The things you learn through athletics make you grow as a player and a person.
“It is critical for the success of any tennis program that every player work to become the very best individual players they can be for the betterment of the team. It is equally critical that these young tennis players learn the importance of hard work, dedication, mental toughness, and drive to be successful beyond high school.”
James coached girls tennis at Cape Fear Christian Academy before joining the faculty at Harnett Central last year. A licensed USPTA elite teaching pro who directs the Harnett County Tennis Academy, James was a multi-sport athlete at Rosewood High School before beginning his college career at Mount Olive, where he played basketball and tennis.
James had an outstanding career in tennis at Greensboro College after an ankle injury at Mount Olive. He still holds many school records at Greensboro.
He played on a satellite pro tour. James has been a teaching pro at Highland Country Club in Fayetteville, Dark Branch Racquet and Swim Club in Fayetteville and Walnut Creek Country Club in Goldsboro.
Central will have renovated courts to play on next school year.
