Men's Tennis | 9/5/2018 9:48:00 AM
MIAMI SHORES, FLA. -- Barry University graduate Todd Rubinstein has been named the 2018 USPTA (United States Professional Tennis Association) National High School Tennis Coach of the Year.
Rubinstein is the head tennis coach and a Special Education teacher at Alonzo & Tracy Mourning Senior High in North Miami, Florida. He has won over 400 matches as a high school head tennis coach and has won the only two state championships in Mourning High's history.
"I am beyond flattered and sincerely grateful to receive this unbelievable recognition, as it's truly the pinnacle of a lifetime's work in the industry," Rubinstein said. "It takes a team of selfless individuals to achieve success at any level and without my remarkable team at Mourning High, this incredible honor could have never been possible. I want to thank the best Athletic Director on the planet Latoya Williams, Principal Christopher Shinn, the rest of the schools' administration, teachers, trainers and staff for everything they have helped me achieve. I would also like to acknowledge every parent and player (past and present) for trusting me in the process and as well, my incredible family for supporting me over the years. Without them, I don't know where I'd be today. I also want to wholeheartedly thank the USPTA for this unbelievable award. When I received the call, I didn't even know what to say. It was very emotional. This is like winning an Emmy in the tennis industry. Words really can't do justice to how I'm feeling. I'm extremely blessed and tremendously honored!"
Barry head coach, George Samuel reminisces on the time when Rubinstein was a student at Barry. "When I first came to Barry and I inherited the men's tennis team, Todd had two more years of eligibility remaining," Samuel said. "Right from the beginning you could see he was very goal-directed and had leadership qualities as a tennis player. He led and enjoyed being on a team. He has always been around tennis and I'm happy to see that he is being recognized for doing such a fine job."
Rubinstein has earned several other accolades during his career. Some of those include:
- 2018 USPTA District 16 Professional of the Year
- 2017 USPTA Florida High School Coach of the Year
- 2016 Wilson 3A High School Coach of the Year
- Team USA Head Tennis Coach at the 20th World Maccabean Games in Israel
- USPTA Elite Professional
- USTA High Performance Coach
- Member of the FHSAA Tennis Advisory Committee
About the USPTA:Â Founded in 1927, the USPTA is the global leader in tennis-teacher certification and professional development. With more than 14,000 members worldwide, the association raises the standards of tennis-teaching professionals and coaches and promotes a greater awareness of the sport.
