LAKE NONA, Fla. –The United States Professional Tennis Association (USPTA) is proud to present the Tim Heckler USPTA Hall of Fame Award to Dr. Jack Groppel, Elgin, IL (Midwest Division).

Dr. Groppel is considered an internationally recognized authority and pioneer in the science of human performance. His research has included performance analyses of over 25 sports, having successfully worked with numerous world-class athletes. His scientific findings have appeared in numerous peer-reviewed journals, and he also served as an instruction editor to Tennis Magazine and had a column entitled, “Ask the Professor” in USPTA’s ADDvantage magazine that ran for 25 years. As a motivating and highly entertaining speaker, Dr. Groppel has spoken at thousands of functions on six continents for many different audiences.

As a professional tennis coach, Dr. Groppel is a certified Master Professional of the USPTA. In 1987, the same year he became a Master Professional, Dr. Groppel was named the USPTA Professional of the Year. From there, he continued to thrive within the profession. He dedicated 16 years of service to the USTA as Chairman of the National Sport Science Committee. He received the 1993 International Tennis Hall of Fame’s Educational Merit Award and was inducted into the Midwest USPTA Hall of Fame in 1998. In 2007, Dr. Groppel was appointed to the USPTA National Board of Directors as a Vice President. He has continuously gone above and beyond for the tennis industry.

“Being inducted into the USPTA Hall of Fame is the pinnacle of ones career in the tennis industry. Thank you, Jack, for your 40 years of service to our organization,” John Embree, USPTA CEO expressed. 

About the USPTA: Founded in 1927, the USPTA is the global leader in tennis-teacher certification and professional development. With more than 14,000 members worldwide and 17 divisions nationwide, the Association’s mission is to raise the standards of tennis-teaching professionals and coaches and to promote a greater awareness of the sport.

Media Contacts:

Marisa Lampe
Director of Marketing and Communications
marisa.lampe@uspta.org
407-634-3071 ext. 142