About Us

   Andy Farmer

As a junior, Andy trained at the very prestigious Harry Hopman's International Tennis Academy in Florida (known today as Saddlebrook Resort.). While at the academy, he practiced and trained alongside some of the greatest tennis players to ever play the game. What an experience! While at the academy he received extensive training by world-renowned coaches Tommy Thompson, Bob Butterfield, Alvaro Betancur, Colon Nunez, and the great Harry Hopman. He played the professional tennis circuit for nearly two-and-a-half years. His professional tennis career was short-lived due to a bad Achilles injury, and he began teaching as a way to stay involved in the sport that he loved and the rest is history! Since his playing days, Andy has run his own academy and has earned an impressive following since he began coaching 25 years ago. He has earned the reputation for taking students as beginners and advancing their abilities through national and collegiate levels. He continues this work with many aspiring tennis juniors today. A consistent goal is to help cultivate the talent of committed students and take them to the next level, whatever that may be. What Andy brings to the court is the instilled sense of discipline, energy, and love of tennis. His love of the game definitely shows when he is in his element.

   Paige Farmer

Paige Patridge Farmer started playing tennis as a junior, later played collegiately for San Diego State University, and is a USPTA certified professional. Her family is rich in tennis tradition and her siblings played competitively and professionally. She has been teaching tennis and developing innovative youth programs for more than 15 years. She currently is the WCTA Program Coordinator. Paige is always looking for innovative ways to develop a love for the sport in young players through fun social events, well-run tournaments, and strong workouts. She has created fun programs for children such as Racket Rascals, Racketeers and more. She is most proud that the West Coast Tennis Academy can and does train players from as young as 4 years old all the way to the professional level and do it so well that players have come from countries outside the United States to train there.

   Gary Young

With over 50 years of on court experience as a player and professional coach tennis is part of Gary's DNA. He began playing tennis at the age of 4 at the Los Angeles Tennis Club, the Mecca of tennis at that time. There he was mentored by the Who's Who of Tennis - Jack Kramer, Pancho Gonzales, Tony Trabert, Lew Hoad, Bobby Riggs, Ken Rosewall, Rod Laver, Alex Olmedo & many others. The single most significant influence to his professional tennis career came from his stepfather - world champion player, coach of Jimmy Connors, and Hall of Famer Pancho Segura. In 1974 Gary began a fulltime coaching career at La Costa Hotel & Spa alongside Mr. Segura where he remained for nearly two decades before choosing another career path. After a successful business career Gary returned to his roots to devote himself fulltime to players serious about learning the fundamentals and strategy of tennis with the goal of becoming accomplished tennis players. He is currently a proud member of the West Coast Tennis Academy working daily alongside owners and fellow coaches Andy and Paige Farmer.

Kerry Safdie

Kerry Safdie began playing tennis at the age of five. By the time he was eight years old he was playing 10 and under tournaments, and won his first junior tournament in 1978. By 1982 he got his first Southern California USTA ranking in the boys 12, ranked #18. In the Boys 16‘s he ranked as high as #4. Kerry played doubles with Michael Chang in the Southern California Junior Sectional  tournament in 1985. Kerry received a scholarship to play tennis at San Diego State University. After he graduated he played the satellite professional tour. During his playing career he had the chance to compete against Jim Courier, Pete Sampras and Michael Chang. Kerry’s teaching career began in 1996 and in this same year he was voted United States Professional Tennis Association player of the year for San Diego county. During his teaching career Kerry has had the chance to work with Zina Garrison, Arantxa Sanchez, Mary Pierce, Conchita Martinez, and Nadia Petrova.


John Tsumas

John Tsumas joins the West Coast Tennis Staff after working at The Bolles School in Jacksonville Florida the past nine years.Tsumas coached and trained national and sectionally ranked juniors as well as becoming Head Boy's coach in 2006. In 2004 Tsumas assisted the Boy's and Girl's Varsity teams to their first Florida state titles.In 2007,2008 and 2009 Tsumas guided the Varsity Boy's to state finalists.Tsumas moved to Jacksonville from Utah where he was the Head Womens Tennis  Coach at The University of Utah Division 1 program for fifteen years.Three of his teams earned top 25 national rankings.During the 1990-91 season ,Tsumas earned the I.T.A.Collegiate Regional Coach of The Year and was a finalist for National Coach of The Year.He coached several All-Americans and eighteen All-Conference players in his time at Utah.Prior to collegiate coaching,Tsumas served as Head Pro at the Canyon Raquet Club in Utah and was the Junior Academy Director for national and sectionally ranked juniors.As a player,Tsumas earned an A.T.P. tour ranking in the summers of 1980,1981 and 1982 in both singles and doubles.During his collegiate career,he posted wins oer the first,second,third and tenth ranked N.C.A.A. Division 1 singles players including wins over the 1983 N.C.A.A.singles runner up and the 1980 singles semifinalist.In doubles,Tsumas teamed with Greg Holmes to upset the 1982 N.C.A.A.doubles champions at the I.T.A.National Indoor Championships.During his collegiate career Tsumas played in the N.C.A.A.singles and doubles championships three times.Prior to Utah,Tsumas held a national junior Boys 16 ranking of ninth.In junior play he posted wins over six national champions and held the #1 ranking in San Diego in four divisions.Tsumas grew up in Cardiff By The Sea.

Always striving for Integrity, Leadership, Resourcefulness, Commitment, Dependability, Teamwork, and Balance.