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)
Under 13th-year head coach Nancy Harris, the Clemson women's program has taken its place on the national stage and become a perennial power in the sport. In the past seven years, Harris has guided the Tigers to back-to-back NCAA Final Fours, a pair of ACC Championships and a top-20 finish each season. Her players annually compete for tournament titles and consistently earn regional and national accolades.
Under Harris' leadership, Clemson became a member of an elite group of schools that have reached the NCAA semifinals twice in the last five years (Stanford, Florida and UCLA). Since 1988, only 14 different universities have reached an NCAA Final Four. The Tigers are proud to have accomplished this feat twice, one of only 10 universities that can make that outstanding claim.
Harris has now led Clemson to 10 NCAA Team Tournament appearances in her 12 years with the program. She has coached the Tigers to 193 wins against 112 losses and boasts a 75-35 record in regular season ACC matches. She has coached eight singles players to 16 appearances at the NCAA Singles Championships and has led a Tiger doubles team to the national doubles tournament in each of the past seven seasons. Twelve of Harris' student-athletes have been named to the All-ACC team 20 times and seven Tiger singles players and five doubles teams have claimed conference flight championships during her tenure.
Four players from the 2009 squad were named All-America giving Harris and Clemson the most of any nationally. The four honorees were also a program high and quite an accomplishment for a team with just eight members. In singles, the Tigers were the only team in the country to boast two players ranked in the top 15 during the regular season as Ani Mijacika remained a constant at the top of the polls and a stellar fall season quickly propelled Josipa Bek into the top 10. Both received bids to the NCAA Singles Championships and won their first-round matches. Bek reached the round of 16 in singles and advanced to the quarterfinals in the national doubles tournament with Ina Hadziselimovic to earn All-America status. Under Harris' guidance, Bek became the first freshman in school history to be named an All-American in singles and doubles.
Harris led Clemson to a third straight Sweet 16 appearance and the program's eighth consecutive NCAA tournament in 2009. The Tigers posted a 19-8 overall record and finished third in the ACC with a 9-2 record. They spent every week ranked in the top 15 and were ranked 11th in the final poll.
Harris coached Mijacika back into the number-one spot in the singles poll and she remained atop the rankings for six straight weeks. With Mijacika headlining the group at #4, four players were ranked in the final ITA singles rankings for the second straight season and just the third time in school history. Bek finished the year at #13 to give Harris and Clemson two players ranked in the top 15 for the first time ever. A pair of doubles teams was also listed in the final rankings. Read More
Coach Darrell Jernigan - Camp Manager (Back To Top)
Darrell Jernigan, entering his fifth year as an assistant women's tennis coach at Clemson, has helped the Tigers to achieve a presence on the national tennis stage and to recruit high-profile talent. Clemson has been ranked in the top 20 in each of his four seasons, and the 2009 signing class was rated 17th in the nation. Jernigan's role in the Tigers' success was acknowledged in 2008 when he was named ITA Southeast Region Assistant Coach-of-the-Year.
"With Coach Jernigan at my side, day in and day out, our program has a tremendous solid base," said Harris. "From recruiting, to practice, to the court in competition I have such a fine person that I can count on to support our student-athletes and myself."
"Darrell has a great work ethic and comes to work with a smile everyday. He is a joy to work with and his enthusiasm is contagious. We all love Darrell and want to be in his presence as his positive influence adds so much to our championship aspirations."
No stranger to Clemson, Jernigan has been active with the Tiger program for two decades, serving as an instructor at the Clemson Tiger Tennis Camps since 1988. In the summer of 2000, he became the director of the camp under current head coach Nancy Harris and remained in that position for five years.
Jernigan helped Clemson bring in a five-member class for the 2007 season. Ani Mijacika and Ina Hadziselimovic have been recognized as two of the top junior players in the world, while Estefania Balda ranked #1 in South America. For their lone signee for the 2008 season, Jernigan helped the Tigers land local player Laurianne Henry. Henry was a Blue Chip recruit who was ranked as high as #3 in the Tennis RPI and 11th in the United States.
For 2009, the Clemson staff inked Jackson, MS native Keri Wong, who was also considered a Blue Chip recruit. Wong rose to the #4 national ranking, according to tennisrecruiting.net, following the 2008 summer play and was consistently among the top five in the Tennis RPI. For the 2010 recruiting class Jernigan convinced top American standout Maria Belaya of Florida to sign with the Tigers.
Jernigan helped the 2008 Tiger squad complete one of the greatest turn-arounds in program history, rallying from a 5-9 record on Mar. 22 to win the final seven matches of the regular season and the ACC Championship. The Tigers earned a bid to the NCAA Tournament for the eighth consecutive season and played host to their fifth straight regional, advancing to the NCAA round of 16 for the fourth time in the last five years.
In 2009 Coach Jernigan helped lead the Tigers back to the NCAA “Sweet 16” as the school claimed four All Americans in women’s tennis during this campaign. Clemson was the only school in the country to have achieved four All Americans and set a school record. This was Clemson's third straight Sweet 16 appearance and the program's eighth consecutive NCAA tournament. The Tigers posted a 19-8 overall record and finished third in the ACC with a 9-2 record. They spent every week ranked in the top 15 and were ranked 11th in the final poll.
As the fourth seed, Clemson won the 2008 ACC title, knocking off the top two seeds in the tournament en route to the crown. The Tigers' win over number-one seed and second-ranked Georgia Tech in the semifinals was the program's great upset in history. Clemson was then ranked 13th in the final Fila/ITA Tennis poll.
Individually, Ani Mijacika made school history when she became the first Clemson tennis player, man or woman, to rise to the #1 national ranking. She spent every week of the spring in the poll's top five and finished the season at #2.
During 2007, Jernigan's second season, the Tigers claimed the ACC regular season co-championship and returned to the NCAA Round of 16. Clemson players Mijacika and Federica Van Adrichem earned doubles All-America honors, while the accolade was just one on a lengthy list for Mijacika. She was also named the ACC Freshman-of-the-Year and the ITA Southeast Region Rookie Player-of-the-Year, both were firsts for the Tiger program.
The 2007 squad set a record for consecutive weeks ranked in the top 10 in a single season with nine and posted seven wins over top 25 teams, second-most in school history. Clemson finished the season at #11 with a 22-5 overall record.
In his first season as a full-time coach at Clemson, Jernigan helped the Tigers reach their fifth straight NCAA Team Tournament appearance and earn the #18 final national ranking. An experienced educator, he helped lead a young 2006 team, which featured three freshmen and two sophomores, to a 17-8 overall record and a fourth-place finish in the ACC with an 8-3 conference ledger.
As the camp director, Jernigan was responsible for running the day-to-day operations, which included overseeing counselor duties, the payroll and parent contact, among other obligations.
Jernigan also played an active role in reviving the Clemson Youth Tennis Program from 1998-2000, a program that serves area junior players. He trained a large group of players and traveled with the more advanced athletes to various tournaments around South Carolina.
Prior to his hiring as the Clemson assistant coach, Jernigan taught sixth grade physical science at Stevens County Middle School in Toccoa, GA for the second half of the 2000-01 school year. He was then hired as a biology teacher at West-Oak High School in Seneca, SC in 2001 and served as the head of the science department until coming to Clemson.
While at West-Oak, Jernigan also coached the girls' and boys' tennis teams. In his only season leading the girls' team, the Warriors won the 2002 Skyline Conference Championship. Jernigan served as the coach of the men's team for five season, guiding the team to a conference championship in 2003-04. He was named the Region Coach-of-the-Year after that season.
Jernigan is from nearby Seneca, SC, where he was a member of the Seneca High School varsity tennis team. He continued his tennis career as a scholarship player at North Greenville College from 1991-1993, receiving an associate degree in biology.
From there, Jernigan attended Winthrop University and walked onto the Eagles' tennis team, playing until 1994.
He earned his a Bachelor of Science degree in Science Teaching-Biological Sciences from Clemson University in 2000.
Jernigan and his wife Frances have two children, Alexis (11) and Riley (7).
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 fourth 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.
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, 2009 NAIA National Coach of the Year and (SSAC) Sothern States Athletic Conference award winner from Auburn University at Montgomery to return for his sixth year of coaching at Clemson Tiger Tennis Camp. Kidd became the first tennis coach in NAIA tennis history to win a decade of National Championships. During Kidd’s young coaching career, he has won two NCCAA (men/women) National Championships and ten NAIA National Championships. Kidd has coached 1 singles ITA Super Bowl singles champion and 4 doubles ITA Super Bowl Champions. Coach Scott Kidd's 2008 Auburn-Montgomery team recorded a phenomenal 38-0 winning season while adding toward the school's 79 consecutive winning streak over the previous two years.
Scott Kidd is entering his sixth season as the head coach of the women’s tennis program and first year as the new men’s head tennis coach at Auburn University at Montgomery. Coach Kidd has led the Lady Senators to six National NAIA Championships marking the school's tenth overall and the sixth consecutive for the program. A six 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 Head Tennis Director for Arrowhead 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 142-5 record to go along with their championship banners. Kidd has also seen the Lady Senators win more than 79 consecutive matches during the past two previous 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 from 2006-2008. The NAIA award was his fifth consecutive season 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 men and women’s program as the full time assistant coach before taking on the head coaching position for the women in the Fall of 2005. Kidd became the first Assistant Coach in the NAIA to be named the National NAIA Coach of the Year in 2005. 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 presently is set to graduate in May 2010 from Auburn University Montgomery national recognized Business School with a second Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration.
This year Coach Kidd along with all his senior staff duties will direct our Purple Camp for ages 4-8 years offered only in the fourth 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 enjoy the Purple Camp for the Tiger Cub and look forward to starting the next generation of tennis players.
Scott and his wife Kristan have a two sons, Tristen (9) and Jaiden (6).
Coach Shelly Geer - Camp Admin, White and Purple Camp (Back To Top)
Shelly Geer joins the Clemson coaching staff for her fifth year as the camp administrative assistant. In the fall of 2009 Shelly became the women’s basketball administrative assistant. Shelly has also helped Clemson athletics achieve their goals by working in Vickery Hall and with 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 (21), Tyler (18), and Matthew (15).
“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 sixth 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 is a graduate of 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 third year. Dr. Lowder works 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.