Aztec Ryan Redondo, who twice won All American honors in doubles with Oliver Maiberger in 2002-2003, and Aztec Steve Adamson, who created one of the country’s leading junior tennis academies, have been hired to lead San Diego’s premier junior tennis institution: Youth Tennis San Diego, which owns the Barnes Tennis Center.
Redondo, whose father, Skip Redondo, coached the Aztec men’s team from 1978 to 1989, was hired as Chief Executive Officer of YTSD, a non-profit company which owns and operates the George Barnes Family Junior Tennis Center, where he serves as General Manager.
Adamson played Aztec tennis 1995-98, then created a highly respected junior teaching academy at the Pacific Beach Tennis Club, which he managed before taking the YTSD position of Director of Tennis.
“My main tasks are coordinating all the junior tennis programs,” Adamson said. “I manage the curriculums as well as oversee the teaching pros.”
“It’s great working with Ryan because we have the same goals. We want to transform Barnes into one of the most reputable tennis centers in the nation and we are off to a great start” he said.
Redondo served as assistant Aztec coach in 2008-2010, then as head coach at University of the Pacific, 2010-2019.
Redondo’s Uncle Walter Redondo was the world’s top-ranked 16-year-old junior in the early 1970s. His Aunt Marita Redondo competed at Wimbledon in 1973 at age 17.
Redondo described after-school teaching as the flagship effort among many YTSD programs, which include staging the USTA National Junior Girls 16 and 18-year-old Championships. The two tournaments were cancelled this year over health concerns.
“We get to go into schools and offer six-week sessions and teach kids the sport of tennis and all the wonderful life skills and additional academic opportunities that we offer them.
“So, to not be able to start that in the schools is definitely a challenge,” he said.
Redondo said the center plans a virtual fundraiser in October to support its operations, which include staging a series of tournaments.
Redondo said he is not out to create an elite institution but to help connect and support all elements of the sport, including college tennis. He praised the Aztec program.
“When I was interviewing for the job, what I presented to them was this Buddhist philosophy of interdependent co-arising. Everything about Youth Tennis San Diego, everything about Barnes tennis, everything about the city of San Diego and tennis in San Diego has got to interconnect and co-arise together.”
In a time of disruption, what could be better? — John Martin