Chris competed on the public courts of Chicago as a young man, learning important lessons in tennis and life along the way. He became Head Pro at Deer Creek in 2002 after numerous valuable playing and coaching experiences, such as varsity collegiate stardom at Southern Illinois University, semi-professional tour competition against the likes of teenaged Andre Agassi and Jeff Tarango, and Junior Tennis Directorship at Lakeshore Athletic Club. And if Head Pro at Deer Creek were not enough of a distinction, Chris is also the author of the best-selling children’s book Whack It…Smack It…With A Racket!
Growing up the son of a respected high school tennis coach, Richard learned to play with integrity, sound decision-making, and culpability — qualities that he looks to instill in his students at Deer Creek. From a stellar record at Waukegan High School to #1 in the lineup at Michigan State University, Richard’s played plenty of high-level tennis in his career. You will find no one in the field more dedicated to studying swing mechanics and the latest instructional methods. Aside from tennis, Richard’s other passion is spending time (and sometimes playing tennis!) with his wife, son, and daughter.
One of Bulgaria’s finest players as a junior, Hristo grew up in Dimitrovgrad and played varsity tennis at University of National and World Economy in Sofia. He was a national top 12-ranked tennis player between 1989 – 1994 and a bronze medalist in Bulgaria’s 1990 national championship. Before arriving in the United States, Hristo coached tennis at Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich. All this worldly knowledge is now being imparted on players of all ages and abilities here at Deer Creek.
As Hristo will tell you, “Great tennis players aren’t born, but they are made!”
Cyrus hails from the Chicago area and played collegiately at Knox College. He both teaches tennis and plays competitively, which lends itself perfectly to directing the club leagues at Deer Creek. Cyrus has extensive teaching experience at numerous area park districts and River Trails Tennis Center. His calm, patient demeanor has made Cyrus a popular figure on our pro staff. Among his inspirations is Brad Gilbert’s classic book Winning Ugly, which he recommends to anyone hoping to gain an edge in mental toughness. Clearly, Cyrus believes in “leaving it all on the court”.
Carlos Mendez is the Founder and President of Multicultural Tennis Association Inc. 501(c)(3) a youth organization that introduces the sport of tennis to title 1 schools and inner-city parks. His organization has given free tennis lessons since 2015. Coach Carlos has been featured by the United States Tennis Association and Tennis Industry Magazine for his grass-roots outreach initiatives in underserved communities. He joined the Park District of Highland Park in October 2022. His focus is player development from the beginner stages to high performance. When he is not coaching at Deer Creek Racquet Club, he is coaching his own kids!
Luisito was born in the Philippines and migrated to the US in 1994. His nickname is ‘Tong’. He started playing tennis at the age of 9 and spent most of his formative years literally on the tennis courts in Davao City, Philippines. He learned and competed with many aspiring tennis players his age; never mind leaving the comfort of home. With the support of his parents and family members who were also tennis players, he honed his skills and pursued his ambition to be a tennis champion. He played varsity tennis in both High School and College. He competed in many interscholastic and national competitions and gained nationwide recognition. He has a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology. Tong loves tennis and is passionate about teaching the skills he mastered.
Steve’s tennis career began at the age of five, hitting against the garage and public court backboards. He soon learned that the garage door and backboard never miss. Steve became an accomplished player over time and was rewarded with a scholarship to Northeastern Illinois University. Before joining Deer Creek in 2007, Steve taught tennis and fitness at clubs in Libertyville and Lincolnshire.
One of Steve’s favorite quotes is, “Tennis is a sport for a lifetime. You are never too young or old to start playing.”
George is a native Bulgarian who grew up playing a number of sports. By the time he reached the University of Plovdiv, George was a standout on the school tennis team. He next graduated from the National Sports Academy in Sofia. After 13 years of teaching school in Bulgaria, George and his family moved to the United States in 2003. George has established himself as an accomplished tennis professional in the Chicago area, playing prominent roles on the staff at Wheaton Sport Center and now Deer Creek. His favorite areas of concentration are footwork and strategy.
Says George, “There is a way to beat almost every opponent.”
From a young age, Zach began competing nationally in racquetball. After two Junior National Titles and three USAR Junior Sportsman of the Year Awards, Zach enlisted in the United States Air Force as an Air Traffic Controller. Following his service time, he played for the #1 Men’s Collegiate Racquetball Program at CSU-Pueblo. At the beginning of 2023, he transitioned full-time to the sport of pickleball, before coming to Deer Creek, Zach was the pickleball pro in Hanover Park. Utilizing his background in racquet sports and his experience in the Armed Forces, Zach brings a unique blend of resilience, camaraderie, and creativity to the world of pickleball.
Jessica graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater in 2022, where she earned a degree in Finance. During her time there, she was an active member of the women’s intercollegiate tennis team, competing at a high level for four years. Jessica’s passion for tennis extended beyond playing, as she also took on coaching roles, helping train and mentor younger players. This experience allowed her to apply her on-court knowledge to guiding others, fostering their growth and love for the game. Off the court, Jessica enjoys working out and spending time with friends and family.
With over 15 years of experience in the fitness and health industry, Coach Beckie has served as a personal trainer and tennis club professional and currently works as a health coach and pickleball instructor.
As a former Division I tennis player and pro/student at the renowned Nick Bollettieri Tennis Academy (now IMG Academy), Coach Beckie leverages her background to bring both passion and fun to her coaching. She holds two master’s degrees and is certified as a Project Management Professional (PMP), an American Council on Exercise (ACE) Health Coach, Fitness Nutritionist, and Behavior Change Specialist as well as a Professional Pickleball Registry (PPR) Certified Professional.
Natalie has been on the tennis court in a teaching capacity since 2020 and has been Racquet Sports Professionals Association certified since 2024. She enjoys working with all ages and skill levels and is glad to be a part of the Deer Creek Racquet Club staff. She is a huge advocate for having fun on the court and being able to enjoy the sport while also improving one’s skills and technique. Natalie is a former member of the Highland Park Girls Tennis team and grew up in the area. She earned her Bachelors of Arts in Justice and Law at American University in D.C. and is glad to be back in her community.
