Camp Staff (Back To Top) (Photos)
The Clemson Tiger Tennis Camp is led by Coach Nancy Harris and her senior staff. The entire staff is composed of prominent educators in the sport which include leading collegiate coaches, teaching professionals and some of the best college players in the US. The staff features instructors with experience in junior Grand Slam events such as the French Open and Wimbledon. Award winners on the Clemson Tiger Tennis Staff include former All ACC, MVP ACC and All American. Our junior staff also features members of national championship team winners in NCAA D I, D II and NAIA. Exposure to the attitudes of champions and the discipline they bring to the court is an important factor in the growth of the future player. We take great pride in our camp to offer you a first class staff that represents the best in teaching this sport.
The Clemson Tiger Tennis Camp staff has no higher priority than the welfare of your child while camp is in session. Coach Harris works side by side with her instructors and your child all day every day. This commitment makes the difference in each camper's experience. Clemson Tiger Tennis Camp understands the importance of individual attention, and therefore, is committed to a 1:4 Teacher: Student ratio. Coach Harris has seen the camp grow to maximum capacity and attributes this to the exceptional, professional, and caring staff of the Clemson Tiger Tennis Camp
Coach Nancy Harris - Camp Director (Back To Top)
Nancy Harris begins her 11th season at the helm of the Clemson women’s tennis program after leading the Tigers to their sixth straight NCAA Tournament appearance and their fifth consecutive top-20 final national ranking in 2007. The Clemson Tigers join an elite group of schools having reached the NCAA Final Four twice in the last four years: Stanford, Florida and UCLA. Only fourteen schools since 1988 have reached an NCAA Final Four. Clemson is proud to have accomplished this feat twice making them one of ten universities to be recognized for this outstanding achievement.
In 2007 with a predominantly freshman team (five of ten players) Harris led the Tigers back to the NCAA National Championship when Clemson defeated the University of Virginia in the second round of the regional tournament advancing to the NCAA “Sweet 16”. The Tigers fell to Cal-Berkley in their final match in Athens, GA. This marked the third time in four years Clemson would advance to the Final 16 round of the national championship while recording their third top 11 national ranking in three of the four past years. The 2007 team marked Clemson history with the most number of consecutive weeks in the top 10 rankings and shared the ACC Regular Season title with Ga. Tech. The Clemson Tigers were the only team in the nation to defeat the national champion, Ga. Tech and national runner-up UCLA during the 2007 season. The Tigers claimed three All ACC Academic honors and two ITA All Academic honors. The first ACC Freshman of the Year-Ani Mijacika was named for Clemson while Mijacika and Federica van Adrichem became the first NCAA Final Four doubles team named for Clemson. Mijacika and van Adrichem were named NCAA All Americans. The team posted a remarkable 22-5 record with losses to top 10 teams only. Read More
Coach Darrell Jernigan - Camp Manager (Back To Top)
In 2007 Coach Darrell Jernigan helped lead a predominantly freshman team to an unprecedented run for the NCAA National Championship. The 2007 composed of five freshman, two sophomores, two juniors and one senior completed a 22-5 record season and final rank of #11. Sharing the ACC regular season title for their conference with Ga Tech the Clemson team was the only team in the US to defeat the national champion and national runner-up UCLA. The 2007 team recorded the longest consecutive record in the top 10 national ranks then any other former Clemson team in history. The highest ranking for the 2007 team was #5 in the nation. In addition to the strong team finish Ani Mijacika and Federica Van Adrichem achieved All American status with a NCAA Final Four performance in doubles, also the best overall performance for a Clemson doubles team. Ani Mijacika became the first ACC Freshman of the Year for the Tigers.
In 2006 Coach Darrell Jernigan helped lead the Clemson Tigers to a final national rank of 18 and ACC conference rank of 3rd. In his debut year the tigers clinched there first win over the Georgia Bulldogs in regular season play since the mid 80's. The Tigers also rolled over 5th and 7th ranked UNC in regular season play and to advance to the ACC Final Four Conference Championships.
Coach Jernigan began his coaching career with the Clemson Tigers when he accepted the position of assistant coach to the women’s program in the fall of 2005. “I have known Coach Jernigan for nine years while coaching here at Clemson as our camp director. I have watched him work with our athletes, our campers, our parents and the general public. I couldn’t be more impressed with his ability to work with people. He is a great motivator, sincere, and asks the most from our athletes and campers. When he accepted the position I felt very privileged to have the honor to coach with him,” said, Harris.
Coach Jernigan was formally a Biology and Chemistry teacher for West Oak High School in Westminster, S.C. He was the head coach for the men's high school tennis team. Coach Jernigan was born in Birmingham, Alabama but calls South Carolina his home since he grew up in the South Carolina cities of Greenville and Seneca. He played high school tennis at Seneca High School graduating in 1991, and went on to play on scholarship at North Greenville College from 1991-93. He walked on at Winthrop College and played through 1994. From 1998-2000 Coach Jernigan revived the Clemson Youth Tennis Program which serves juniors from the surrounding area. In the year 2000 Coach Jernigan completed his degree in Biology at Clemson University. Coach Jernigan is married to Frances Jernigan and has two beautiful children Alexis, with eight years and Riley with four years.
Coach Alix Lacelarie, Top Tiger, Crush, Orange, and White (Back To Top)
Coach Alix Lacelarie, former Clemson student athlete star, returns to the Clemson Tiger Tennis Staff for her third year at camp. She is currently a teaching professional in Austin, Texas where she serves as a coach for the St. Stephen’s Tennis Academy. The academy produces top juniors form around the world for all divisions of collegiate play on an annual basis.
Coach Lacelarie graduated from Clemson in Language and International Trade in 2005 and was accepted to Clemson’s Master’s program for Human Resources the following fall. While completing her Master’s degree Alix served as a volunteer coach to the Clemson women’s tennis team for the 2006 and 2007 season. In 2007, with a predominantly freshman team, Alix helped lead the Tigers to a final national rank of 11th and an NCAA Sweet Sixteen performance. The team completed a 22-5 record and made history for most number of consecutive weeks in the top ten national rankings. In 2006, Alix helped lead the Clemson program to its fifth straight NCAA Team Tournament appearance and a #18 final national ranking. Tthe Tigers defeated five teams ranked in the top 25 en route to a 17-8 overall record, and they compiled an 8-3 record in, arguably, the nation's toughest conference.
Collegiate Career: Alix was a member of Clemson's 2004 and 2005 NCAA Final Four teams, earning All-America honors in doubles. She and her partner finished the season ranked #10 in the final ITA doubles poll and reached the round of 16 in the NCAA Doubles Championships. Alix and partner Julie Coin were named to the prestigious NCAA Tournament Team. They had an 18-3 record for a .857 winning percentage that ranked sixth in Clemson history. Alix is also ranked fifth all-time with a .777 career doubles winning percentage, and her 80 career doubles victories are listed ninth in the Tiger annuals. Alix was named the Most Valuable Performer of the 2004 ACC Tournament. In singles play Alix was ranked as high as #22 in the nation during her four year tenure at Clemson. She was a two- time All-ACC honoree. Academically she achieved the Clemson Academic Honor Roll and the ACC Academic Honor Roll. During one of her two years as Team Captain, the Tigers won the ACC Championship Title. Alix was also selected the 2004 Brandon Streeter Award honored for most courageous Clemson student athlete of the year. Alix was a four-year varsity letter winner for Clemson University.
Coach Scott Kidd, Top Tiger, Crush, Orange, White & Purple Camp (Back To Top)
Clemson Tiger Tennis Camp welcomes Coach Scott Kidd, 2007 NAIA National Coach of the Year from Auburn University at Montgomery, back to camp for his forth year of teaching at Clemson. This year Coach Kidd will direct our third Tiger Cub Purple Camp for ages 4-8 years offered in the third session. Coach Kidd is not only one of the leading college coaches in the nation but enjoys working with children starting at pre-school to 8 years. Coach Kidd has pre-school children of his own and teaches regular weekly clinics in Montgomery, AL. We welcome this new addition to our camp and look forward to starting the next generation of tennis players.
Scott Kidd is entering his fourth season as the head coach of the women’s tennis program at Auburn University at Montgomery. Coach Kidd has led the Lady Senators to four National NAIA Championships marking the school’s seventh overall and the fourth consecutive for the program. A four time NAIA National Coach of the Year and native of the state of Alabama contributes his time and efforts to the development of young people in the sport of tennis. Serving as an assistant director for junior development at the Montgomery Country Club Kidd also weekly trains some of the community’s top juniors. In addition he enjoys hosting clinics with the age groups 4-8 years helping preschool children get off to a solid beginning in the sport.
During his coaching tenure at AUM the Lady Senators boast a two year 58-1 record to go along with their championship banners. The sole loss was a slim 4-3 defeat to NCAA Division II Champion, Armstrong Atlantic State University. Kidd has also seen the Lady Senators win more than 60 consecutive matches during the past three seasons to go along with the three national championships. Kidd was named the Southern States Athletic Conference, NAIA Region XIII and the NAIA National Coach-of-the-Year following last season. The NAIA award was his third consecutive season for him to receive the honor.
Kidd came to AUM following highly successful stops at North Greenville (S.C.) College and King (Tenn. ) College, where he served as the head coach for both the men and women’s programs. During his first two years at Auburn University at Montgomery he served both the mens and womens program as the full time assistant coach before taking on the head coaching position for the women in the Fall of 2003. National championships are nothing new to Kidd, as he led North Greenville ’s men and women to the National Christian College Athletic Association (NCCAA) National Championships in 2002. He was named the NCCAA Coach-of-the-Year for his efforts.
Kidd received his Bachelor of Arts degree in organizational management from Virginia Intermont College and he received an associate’s degree from Enterprise State (Ala. ) Junior College. He holds certificates from McArthur Technical College and the School of Tomorrow Institution.
Kidd and his wife Nicole have a daughter, Jaiden and a son, Tristen.
Coach Shelly Geer - Camp Admin, White and Purple Camp (Back To Top)
Shelly Geer joins the Clemson Tiger Tennis staff for her third year as Administrative Assistant for the women’s tennis program. Shelly was born and grew up in Wheaton, Maryland but has made Clemson “home” since graduating from the University in 1986. After running cross country and swimming for Wheaton High School she became a competitive tri-athlete during college. She is married to Dave Geer, a former Clemson University cross country runner and they have three children, Corey (19), Tyler (16), and Matthew (13).
“I am very excited to be working with Coach Harris’s tennis program; and, the camp is an extension of that terrific program: hard work and lots of learning in a very positive environment.” Shelly graduated from Clemson University in 1986 with a degree in Parks, Recreation and Travel Management. All her experience has been with youth: from pre-school to college age, working as a camp counselor, ropes course facilitator, and pre-school teacher.
“Her experience with juniors is invaluable as the campers settle in for their first few days of camp. She can see a homesick child before they know they are homesick. She always has a smile for each camper and makes them feel important. We are very blessed by Shelly’s ability to make our athletes and our campers always feel at home. We are so fortunate she has joined our staff,” said Coach Harris.
Coach Anibal Braga- Top Tiger, Crush, Orange, and White (Back To Top)
Coach Anibal Braga returns to Clemson Tiger Tennis Camp as a senior instructor for his fourth straight year. Coach Braga is the Tennis Director and Head Teaching Professional (PTR) for the Green Valley Country Club in Greenville, SC and has been there since 2002. Coach Braga has strong ties to the Clemson tennis programs as he served as assistant coach for both the women’s (1998-2000) and men’s tennis teams (2000-2001). Anibal Braga is a graduate from Auburn University at Montgomery with a degree in Business Administration (Marketing emphasis-1996). Coach Braga completed his Master’s Degree at Auburn University at Montgomery in Business Administration (Global Management Option-1998). At the completion of his master’s degree he joined the Clemson Tigers to help build the women’s program to its current perennial top 20 status seen today. In 2001 as assistant coach to the men’s program he helped guide the team to a second place finish in the ACC Championships. As a teaching professional at Green Valley Country Club his USTA league teams have captured SC State Championships. In 2005 he was Green Valley Country Club Employee of the Year.
Coach Braga played for Auburn University at Montgomery men’s tennis team under Coach Harris from 1994-1996. During Coach Braga’s playing years as a collegiate student athlete he helped guide his team to two National NAIA titles in 1995 and again in 1996. Coach Braga was a captain of his team and an Academic All-American during his collegiate years. A teammate Wesley Moodie from South Africa who helped capture the 1996 Championship title with Anibal went on to win the 2005 Wimbledon Doubles title.
In 1997 the student-athlete Anibal Braga became Coach Braga for the first time joining the coaching staff at Auburn University at Montgomery for both the women’s and men’s programs. In his first year of coaching he helped guide the teams to the National Championship Finals where each team finished 2nd in the nation. “Anibal’s experience as a player and coach has been at the highest level of competition in our sport. He understands how to guide a player to the highest level of achievement and has set the example for all young people to aspire to. We are very fortunate to have this caliber of coach joining us each year to help our campers. It is a privilege to know Anibal Braga,” said Coach Harris.
Coach Stephanie Hyatt - Orange and White Camp (Back To Top)
As a former recruiting coordinator and administrative assistant to the women’s tennis team Coach Stephanie Hyatt helped build the program to national prominence. In 2004 the Tigers finished 5th in the nation in the NCAA Division I ranks while reaching the prestigious Final Four of the NCAA Tournament Championship. In addition the team won the ACC Conference Tournament and the ACC Regular Season Title with a perfect 11-0 record. “Her contribution to the women’s tennis program has been immeasurable; she wanted to make a difference and what a difference she made,” said Coach Harris. “She will always be a great friend of the Clemson women’s tennis team.”
Stephanie is a graduate of the University of Vermont where she played Division I basketball. She graduated magna cum laude with a degree in Animal Science and a minor in Coaching. A former high school swimming, tennis, and basketball coach, she enjoys working with young athletes. She came to Clemson in the early 90s, and although a Vermont native, she claims the Carolinas as her home. She has two children, Tanner and Colby. Tanner is a graduate and former student baseball athlete of Clemson University and Colby will be a senior at Ohio State University. Stephanie is married to David Hyatt and resides in Ohio.
Coach Hyatt is a senior instructor for the Clemson Tiger Tennis Camp and does an outstanding job with player development particularly in the area of mechanics and stroke production for the Orange and White Camps
Coach Milt Lowder- Top Tiger, Crush, Orange, and White (Back To Top)
Clemson Tiger Tennis Camp is fortunate to have Dr. Milt Lowder, sports psychologist for the Clemson athletic teams join the Clemson Tennis Tiger Tennis Senior Staff for his first year. Dr. Lowder will work with the campers to improve their athletic performance by sharing his proven mental toughness strategies that help produce championship play. Dealing with the mental challenges that face the developing tennis player Clemson Tiger Tennis Camp believes junior tennis players should have the opportunity to learn how to build and sustain a champion’s mental attitude. Dr. Lowder has been instrumental in the success of the Clemson athletic teams and is highly respected by the Clemson coaching staff and student athletes.
Dr. Milt Lowder completed his Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology from the University of Kentucky after receiving his Bachelor of Science degree from Clemson University. As a licensed psychologist in South Carolina, Dr. Lowder specializes in performance enhancement, sport psychology, leadership development, and psychological assessment, including psycho-educational evaluations. Under contract to the Clemson University Athletic Department, Dr. Lowder works with Clemson’s athletic teams, individual student athletes, and coaches to improve their performance and help them deal with the pressures of college athletics and life.
Dr. Milt Lowder was recently named the Consulting Psychologist for the Mac Foundation, a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing healthy opportunities for young people to develop into well-adjusted adults. He often speaks to organizations, businesses, and teams on motivation, leadership, and peak performance. His passion for helping others perform at a high level originated with his own athletic endeavors and from his time spent as an assistant high school basketball coach. Dr. Lowder values the time he spends with Coach Harris and the women’s tennis program at Clemson, and he is excited to be a part of the Clemson Tiger Tennis Camp.
Dr. Lowder is known for building an encouraging, collaborative relationship with each individual, athlete, family, or business; and coaches his clients to maximize their performance in the classroom, on the athletic field, and in their personal and professional lives. He helps his clients develop practical and concrete strategies so that they may have the courage to overcome their problems and improve their mental, physical, and spiritual lives. “I am certain our campers are going to love working with Milt; as my student athletes have achieved super results they love and respect him. Milt is a terrific guy and has a great message. His nurturing character and professional knowledge are qualities I am proud to see our campers have the opportunity to be exposed to; we are indeed fortunate,” said, Coach Harris.