Ben Hestley - owner

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2022 proved to be a great start for Ben Hestley as Owner of Bull Shark Sports.  He was named GPTA's Independent Tennis Professional of the Year for his efforts in creating programs at neighborhood facilities, introducing nearly 150 kids to the game of tennis. 

Before starting Bull Shark Sports, Ben was the Director of Tennis at Druid Hills Golf Club from 2008 - 2021 and spent a total of 14 years at the club. Prior to Druid Hills, Coach Ben led the junior tennis program at Dunwoody Country Club from  2005 - 2007.  

Coach Ben has led teams to city, state, and sectional championships and has developed players that thrived  in tennis as well as those that became elite athletes in other sports with tennis as a vehicle that helped get  them there. 

Ben has spent the more recent years of his career "coaching coaches," helping tennis professionals to exhibit a consistent structure and effective style in their lessons and programs.  Ben played a key role as a Coach's Trainer in USTA's launch of Net Generation which provided a lesson planning app for coaches.   Ben currently works with the USTA to write coach education curriculum and serve as a Coach Developer, delivering workshops to professional certification candidates.  

Ben played collegiate tennis at Central Alabama Community College for two years then went on to play at the University of North Alabama where he graduated with a Sociology degree in 2004. While baseball was the main focus much of his junior career, Ben did compete on the 1998 Alabama Junior Olympic Tennis Team. 

Coach Ben's philosophy is to put players in positions to learn by having them experience activities that are most relevant to  skills needed to play the sport. Provide players with the most progressive coaching methods while staying focused on the fundamentals of the sport.  Give personal attention to each player in the group and ensure that all players remain engaged and active during a practice session.  

• USTA Coach Developer 
• USPTA Coach Developer 
• USTA Net Generation Certified Coach
• PTR Master of Tennis Performance
• USPTA Elite Professional
• PTR Junior Development Professional
• PTR Adult Development Professional
• USA Baseball C Certified Coach
• Driveline Youth Baseball Development Certified
• PPR Certified Pickleball Coach